2024 – Page 6 – Virtually Islamic News

Sat 21 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 23-11-2024AD
infrastructure

Cables under threat

Dan Milmo, Guardian, Wire cutters: how the world’s vital undersea data cables are being targeted, 22 Nov 2024. “Carrying 99% of the world’s international telecommunications, the vulnerable lines are...

Fri 20 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 22-11-2024AD
Artificial Intelligence, Indonesia, Indonesia Internet, Nvidia

AI School Indonesia

Reuters, Nvidia to build AI school in Indonesia, country’s VP says, 21 Nov 2024“U.S. chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA.O) plans to invest in several cities in Indonesia, including building a school...

Thu 19 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 21-11-2024AD
Artificial Intelligence, Pilgrimage, Switzerland

“AI Powered ‘Jesus‘”

Ashifa Kassam, The Guardian, Deus in machina: Swiss church installs AI-powered Jesus, 21 Nov 2024 “During the two-month period of the experiment, more than 1,000 people – including Muslims...

Thu 19 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 21-11-2024AD
Artificial Intelligence, Gulf Region, Podcasts

Gulf AI Chips

Tonight’s listening Check out the latest episode of MEnbar, where I talk to the awesome June Park about the politics of AI Chips in the Gulf states. YouTube: lnkd.in/dp33W6Zn...

Thu 19 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 21-11-2024AD
Technology, Turkey, Turkey Internet, Türkiye

Quantum Türkiye

Türkiye witnesses major technological breakthrough as it unveils its first quantum computer, aiming to increase international competitive power in information processing technologies, Vice President Yılmaz sayshttps://t.co/OGwDfskKls — Daily Sabah...

Thu 19 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 21-11-2024AD
Algeria, Mali, Mauritania, Sahel

Sahel ‘Jihad‘ Attacks

Updates on Sahel ‘jihad‘-oriented attacks. NEW MAPS: ISSP & JNIM | CTP's first Sahelian Salafi-jihadi areas of operation map update since 2022 reflects extensive changes based on the strengthening...

Thu 19 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 21-11-2024AD
Artificial Intelligence, LLMs

Qat/cat AI

Some confusion here on AI regarding qat The perils of AI and the misinterpretation/misrendering of qat (I don't think feline readers need be concerned)....

Wed 18 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 20-11-2024AD
India internet, Indian Muslims, Instagram

‘Cow Vigilantes‘

The headline may sound trivial, but this is a very serious issue: Meanwhile, on Instagram: “A new report from the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) shared...

Wed 18 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 20-11-2024AD
Digital Islam, Research

‘Islam and Digital Religion’

It’s always good to see former postgrads in print/digital editions: It's great to see Ibrahim Abusharif's "Islam and Digital Religion" chapter in Heidi Campbell and Pauline Hope Cheong's edited...

Wed 18 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 20-11-2024AD
Digital British Islam, Podcasts

Muslim Podcasters

Here’s an article by my Digital British Islam colleagues Dr Khadijah Elshayyal and Dr Sadek Hamid: Here’s an excellent article from @digibritislam’s @DrKElshayyal and @SadekHamid on British Muslim podcasters....

Islamic Algorithms – book cover

Gary R. Bunt, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2024)

Explore the book

Paperback, hardback and ebook editions are available now.

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Prof. Gary R. Bunt, 2026

Comments

“Gary Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms explores the dynamic relationship between technology shifts and the evolving engagement of Muslims online. Bunt emphasises the unchanging core of Islam, adapting its expression to developing technology. A testament to Bunt’s brilliance in the ever-changing Cyber Islamic Environments, this is a must-read for those interested in Islamic studies, digital Islam and Muslim metaverses.” ―Eva Nisa, Senior Lecturer of Anthropology, The Australian National University, Australia

“A timely and insightful exploration, the book offers a concise yet comprehensive glimpse into the evolving landscape of Cyber Islamic Environments. From the serene halls of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque to the potential realms of Muslim metaverses, this book takes readers on a journey to unveil the dynamic relationship between Islam and technology. In a world where smartphones guide prayers and iPads connect elders in study groups, Bunt shares a compelling and timely perspective on the evolving relationship between Islam, technology and the digital age.” ―Umar Ryad, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Leuven, Belgium

Bibliography and Glossary

Review by Michael Dhanoya (University of Leicester) in LSE Blogs

“Islamic Algorithms is a great contribution to the topic of Digital Religion …”

Review in The Muslim World‘ by Dr Akif Tahiiev of Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt am Main

‘Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms liefert detaillierte Einblicke in die digitalen Räume von AkteurInnen, die sich auf unterschiedliche Weise auf den Islam “

“Gary R. Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms provides detailed insights into the digital spaces of actors who relate to Islam in various ways.*

* Google Translation

Margareta Wetchy, Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms unter der Lupe, Machine Against the Rage

“Overall, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse is crucial to contemporary Islamic studies. The book is highly recommended for researchers, academics, and practitioners interested in the interaction between
technology and religion.” Reza Adeputra Tohis and Zulkifli Mansyur, Religion & Theology, 32 (2025): Issue 1-2 (Jun 2025) [PDF]

” … Bunt’s volume is an important step forward in understanding the importance of digital discourse to contemporary Islamic traditions and Muslim communities.” James Riggan, Reading Religion (American Academy of Religion)

“Islamic Algorithms provides a timely and thoughtful examination of how Islam, algorithms, and digital culture intersect. It is a valuable resource for scholars and researchers interested in digital presence of Islam, and digital culture both in theory and practice.” Mohamed Taher, Middle Eastern Librarians Association

Book cover: Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘

Gary R. Bunt’s chapter ‘Şeyh Google’dan Yapay Zekâ İmama Mı?: Müslüman Dijital Mecralarda İslami Etki ve Otoritenin Dönüşümü‘?‘ (trans. Necmiye Durmuş) is available in ‘Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘ edited by Mehmet Ali Başak (Eskiyeni). The original version was in

Scharia im Wandel edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024).

Available from:

AI ‘Fake Journalism‘ Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Starlink Test Implications Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Virtually Islamic on Substack Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Iran AI Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Indonesia Online Gambling Thu 27 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 8-10-2026AD

Scharia im Wandel book cover. Showing figures reading, a stack of books, and the background of a minaret and mosque dome.

My chapter, “From Sheikh Google to ImamAI? Evolving Islamic Influence and Authority in Muslim Digital Worlds,” is published in “Scharia im Wandel. Beiträge zur Transformation islamischer Autorität im Spannungsfeld von Kodifikation, Migration und Digitalisierung,” edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024). Studies on Islamic Cultural and Intellectual History, Noorhaidi Hasan et al.

The book is the result of a 2022 conference at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

A Turkish version of the chapter is in preparation for publication in 2026.

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