“AI+Religion”is hot, Top growing 3.5x at $60M ARR
AI+God is the best new business again
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Over the past few days during Christmas, several founders have shared with me how their user engagement has dropped significantly, reflecting the importance of this holiday season for families as many people take time off.
A recent article from The Wall Street Journal highlighted an interesting trend: Bible sales are up 22% this year through the end of October when compared to last year’s sales during the same time period, making for “a golden age of Bible publishing,” that is growing 22% year-over-year. In the first ten months alone, over 13.7 million copies were sold.
This growth is largely driven by first-time buyers and the release of new, more accessible editions aimed at a broader audience. Additionally, heightened societal anxiety and the quest for hope during uncertain times—fueled in part by concerns over AI—have led more people to turn to the Bible.
Interestingly, many of these new buyers are Gen Z, who are engaging with spiritual content through modern marketing strategies and social media, fueling demand for related products like journals and study tools.
This shift in demand has presented significant opportunities for entrepreneurs, particularly in combining religious content with AI capabilities. Many now view religion as “a booming business,” which has led to a proliferation of AI+religion products.
I recently did a brief research about 4 products in this space, spanning various religions and even combining spirituality with meditation. The business model they are doing is similar to AI Tutors in education.
In terms of revenue, the top product in this category has reached $60 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), with 10 million users and a 3.5x annual growth rate.
One launched about 18 months ago and achieved $10 million ARR, doubling its $5 million ARR from just six months earlier.
Like AI Tutors in education, teams from China are also trying to compete with their peers.
The first is Deerpark (Buddhist GPT)
Developed by XMind founder Sun Fang, Deerpark combines AI with Buddhism. Using GPT-4, it aids in reading 14,000 volumes of Buddhist scriptures by converting classical Chinese texts into modern language, making them accessible to everyone.
Deerpark offers three primary features:
1. AI-Powered Translations: The platform utilizes advanced AI technology, including GPT-4, to assist users in reading and understanding over 14,000 volumes of Buddhist scriptures. This feature is particularly beneficial for those who may struggle with traditional texts.
2. Buddhist Scripture Q&A: Utilizing RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), the app enables users to ask questions like, “What is emptiness?” and receive scripture-based answers. Unlike emotional support chatbots, this knowledge-oriented tool focuses on facilitating scripture comprehension.
3. Community Engagement: Deerpark AI encourages users to engage with the content and share insights, fostering a community of learners interested in Buddhist philosophy and teachings.
Membership options include an annual fee of RMB 2,000 or RMB 240 per month, with a lifetime membership priced at RMB 14,000, equating to “14,000 books for 14,000 RMB.”
Sun Fang emphasizes the app’s mission of making Buddhist wisdom globally accessible through multilingual AI translations.
