The Impact of Artificial Intelligence Utilization on Religious Literacy and the Ability to Verify Religious Information among Islamic Religious Education Students

Abstract

The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed the way students acquire, understand, and verify religious information. While AI offers easy access to sources of Islamic knowledge, it also raises challenges related to information validity, the spread of religious hoaxes, and social media algorithm bias. This study aims to analyze the impact of Artificial Intelligence utilization on the level of religious literacy and the ability to verify religious information among Islamic Religious Education (PAI) students. The study employed a qualitative approach with a literature review method, analyzing various studies on religious literacy, the use of AI in PAI learning, digital hadith verification, digital da'wah (Islamic outreach), and the influence of social media algorithms. The results indicate that the use of AI contributes positively to increasing access to religious knowledge, strengthening digital literacy, and accelerating the process of searching for Islamic references. However, the use of AI without critical thinking skills has the potential to reduce the quality of source verification, increase dependence on instant information, and strengthen the filter bubble phenomenon in social media. Critical religious literacy is a crucial factor in determining the effectiveness of AI use in religious learning. Students who are able to verify the validity of hadith, fact-check da'wah content, detect religious hoaxes, and identify narratives of digital radicalism are likely to benefit more from the use of AI. This study concludes that Artificial Intelligence can be an instrument for strengthening religious literacy if it is integrated with adequate information verification and critical digital literacy capabilities.