New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Reading the Bible with AI?: A Conversation with John Kaag, Philosopher and Co-Founder of Rebind AI
Dec 3, 2025
In this engaging discussion, John Kaag, a philosopher and co-founder of Rebind AI, explores how AI can enhance reading by creating interactive spaces for learning, including the innovative Rebind Study Bible. He reveals how Rebind allows readers to engage deeply with texts alongside AI-generated commentary from scholars. Kaag argues that this technology democratizes access to knowledge while highlighting the irreplaceable value of human teachers. Personal anecdotes and future expansion plans for Rebind add an inspiring touch to the conversation.
42:40
Origin: Forty Hours On Walden
- John Kaag was asked to record 40 hours of audio commentary on Walden to seed Rebind's platform.
- Rebind uses those verbatim human commentaries to answer reader questions via AI distribution.
AI As Distributor, Not Author
- Rebind uses AI to stitch reader questions to original commentator responses, not to train new LLMs.
- This preserves attribution and reduces hallucinations compared with generic AI answers.
Prioritize Attributed Commentary
- When building AI reading tools, source attributable expert voices and limit AI to retrieval and stitching.
- This prevents anonymous, hallucinated responses and preserves scholarly authority.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Kaag's background and philosophical focus
02:23 • 2min
How Rebind began and its approach
04:27 • 2min
How Rebind uses AI to stitch commentary
06:52 • 2min
Gathering commentary from authors and scholars
08:49 • 3min
Scaling limits and the Study Bible pivot
11:34 • 2min
Rebind Study Bible: features and audio recasts
13:08 • 2min
Non-denominational use and scholarly sourcing
15:21 • 2min
Personalization and future expansion
17:03 • 2min
Ad break
19:11 • 1min
AI as access and scholarly discovery
20:14 • 23sec
Ad break
20:37 • 28sec
AI's limits vs. human teachers
21:05 • 51sec
Best use cases: daunting texts and exegetical reading
21:56 • 2min
Addressing academic skepticism
24:25 • 4min
Publishers, IP, and technology challenges
28:30 • 3min
Desired future titles and spiritual classics
31:12 • 8min
Personal motives and post-health reflections
39:28 • 2min
Closing reflections and recommendations
41:40 • 2min
Outro
43:24 • 27sec
#715
• Mentioned in 38 episodes
Candide
François-Marie Arouet
Voltaire
Candide, written by Voltaire, is a satirical novel that critiques metaphysical optimism, particularly the philosophy of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.
The story revolves around Candide, a naive and optimistic young man who is expelled from his home after an illicit affair with the baron's daughter, Cunégonde.
Candide and his companions, including his tutor Pangloss, experience a series of horrific events such as wars, earthquakes, slavery, and other atrocities.
Despite these hardships, Pangloss persists in his belief that 'all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.
' The novel ultimately concludes with Candide and his friends settling on a farm in Turkey, where they find happiness by focusing on practical, everyday tasks rather than philosophical speculations.
Voltaire uses satire to lampoon various aspects of 18th-century society, including science, philosophy, religion, and government.
#8169
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Huck Finn
Mark Twain
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a picaresque novel that follows Huck Finn and Jim, a runaway slave, as they travel down the Mississippi River.
The story explores themes of racism, identity, and the moral education of Huck, who learns to see Jim as a human being rather than a slave.
Through their adventures, Twain critiques societal norms and the hypocrisy of 'civilized' society.
#332
• Mentioned in 64 episodes
A Tale of Two Cities
Julius Julius Seybt
Francisco Manuel GRANADO CASTRO
Marion Leighton
federico alonso
Aedi Abraham
maxi sanchez
jaime arbe
Fred BARNARD
Laura Santamaria
Juan Ramon Torregrosa
monica alonso
Charles Dickens
Alejo García Moreno
Miguel Muñoz
leonardo pablo federico sanchez alonso
J. J. Bernier
Salustiano Masó Simón
Victor G Ambrus
Jose perez
Hablot K. BROWNE
Published in 1859, 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens is a historical novel that contrasts the lives in London and Paris during the late 18th century.
The story revolves around characters such as Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton, and Lucie Manette, each dealing with love, sacrifice, and the profound societal changes brought about by the French Revolution.
The novel critiques both the conditions leading up to the Revolution and the Revolution itself, highlighting themes of resurrection, sacrifice, and the potential for positive change.
Dickens's vivid portrayal of the social disparities and political unrest of the era, along with his iconic opening lines, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,' make the novel a compelling exploration of human resilience and societal issues.
#661
• Mentioned in 40 episodes
Varieties of Religious Experience
William James
This book is a collection of lectures delivered by William James at the University of Edinburgh between 1901 and 1902.
It focuses on the personal and subjective aspects of religious experiences, rather than on theology or organized religion.
James examines various types of religious experiences, including healthy-mindedness, the sick soul, conversion, mysticism, and saintliness.
He emphasizes the importance of feeling and personal experience in religion, arguing that these experiences are the primary source of religious beliefs and practices.
The book also discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of these experiences, highlighting their complexity and life-altering nature.
#18
• Mentioned in 324 episodes
The Bible
Various Authors
The Bible is a comprehensive collection of texts that form the central religious text of Christianity and Judaism.
It is divided into the Old Testament, which includes books such as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and others that narrate the creation of the world, the history of the Israelites, and the prophetic messages.
The New Testament focuses on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, along with the early Christian church and its spread.
The Bible contains a wide range of genres, including historical narratives, poetry, wisdom literature, prophetic writings, and epistles.
#203
• Mentioned in 91 episodes
Ulysses
James Joyce
Ulysses is a groundbreaking and complex modernist novel that chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners over a single day.
The novel is loosely based on Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey', with Leopold Bloom paralleling Odysseus, Stephen Dedalus paralleling Telemachus, and Molly Bloom paralleling Penelope.
It explores themes such as antisemitism, human sexuality, British rule in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism.
The novel is known for its innovative use of language and narrative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and multiple literary styles.
It captures the essence of early 20th-century Dublin, providing a detailed snapshot of the city's social, political, and cultural landscape.
#18678
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Hiking with Nietzsche
Dr. John Kagg
#3010
• Mentioned in 12 episodes
Dubliners
James Joyce
Dubliners is a collection of short stories by James Joyce, first published in 1914.
The stories are arranged to track the lives of Dubliners from childhood to old age, exploring themes such as the 'paralysis' of Irish society, the desire for escape, and the intersection of life and death.
Each story features a different plot and characters but is connected by the theme of epiphany, where characters experience life-changing moments of revelation.
The collection is known for its realistic portrayal of Dublin life, highlighting issues such as alcoholism, religious tension, and political concerns of the time.
#48701
American Philosophy: A Love Story
John Kaag
#194
• Mentioned in 93 episodes
Walden
Henry David Thoreau
Published in 1854, 'Walden; Or, Life in the Woods' is a series of 18 essays that reflect Thoreau's experiences living in a small cabin near Walden Pond from July 1845 to September 1847.
The book is a personal declaration of independence, a social experiment, and a voyage of spiritual discovery.
Thoreau details his life in the woods, discussing the construction of his cabin, his daily activities, and his philosophical reflections on economy, social relations, and the importance of living in harmony with nature.
The work is considered a cornerstone of American literature and a foundational text in the Transcendentalist movement, emphasizing the benefits of a simplified lifestyle and the importance of individual freedom and self-reliance.
Rebind combines reading with AI-chat to deepen learning and simulate the experience of conversing with some of the greatest scholars and thinkers. With Rebind, you can read A Tale of Two Cities with Margaret Atwood, Huck Finn with Marlon James, and Candide with Salman Rushdie. John and his team have recently launched the Rebind Study Bible, an interactive way to read, listen, and interpret the Bible with insight from scholars. As we head further into a world augmented by AI tools, Rebind is on the frontlines of embracing AI without destroying the art of deep, contemplative engagement. To give so insight into how Rebind is marrying scholarship with AI tools, I’m thrilled today to have John Kaag on the podcast.
For a free 7-day trial, visit this link
John Kaag is an American philosopher and chair and professor of philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He is co-founder of Rebind Publishing.
Caleb Zakarin is editor of the New Books Network.
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