St. Peter’s Chapel in Lucerne, Switzerland, has taken an. . .innovative step by introducing an AI-powered Jesus.
The installation, called Deus in Machine, lets visitors interact with a virtual Jesus in 100 different languages, offering spiritual conversations through an AI avatar.
Launched in August 2024, the project was created in partnership with a local university research lab exploring immersive technology. After experimenting with virtual and augmented reality, the church decided to use AI to bring a Jesus avatar to life.
The avatar was set up in the church’s confessional booth, where visitors could ask theological questions and receive AI-generated answers in real-time. The church clarified that this was not a replacement for confession. It really had to clarify that to ensure parishioners understood that the AI avatar could not grant absolution nor forgive sins.
Over 1,000 visitors engaged with the avatar in the first 20 days it was available. User’s responses ranged from positive to critical.
The key takeaways:
- Two-thirds of participants described the encounter as spiritual, feeling inspired and surprised.
- Some found the responses clichéd or inconsistent, likening them to calendar sayings.
- Church leaders raised questions about using the confessional and the risks of AI giving inappropriate advice.
A holy tech
To reduce risks, the church tested the AI with 30 people before its launch and monitored its performance closely. Despite these precautions, the uncertainty of AI behavior led the church to limit the project’s duration to 180 days.
The experiment revealed a strong curiosity about using AI in faith, showing how people seek new ways to connect with their religion and faith.
While unlikely a decision to make it permanent will be forthcoming, the project highlights AI’s potential as a multilingual spiritual tool, sparking interest in how tech might support religious engagement moving forward.
AI Jesus, things just got weird! What are your thoughts on the use of AI in matters of faith and religion? Should use of AI in other facets of our lives require advisories such as the one utilized by the church (not a substitute for confession to a confessor of the Church)?
Please share your AI experiences in the comments section. Share this post too – I’m considering starting a new blog focusing on AI uses in our everyday lives!
