Church in Switzerland Introduces AI-Powered Jesus Hologram for Confessions
St Peter's Church in Lucerne introduces an AI-powered Jesus hologram for confessions. Worshipers can interact with the digitally-rendered Jesus for spiritual guidance. AI Jesus communicates in 100 languages and offers advice based on scripture and theological knowledge.
This cutting-edge initiative, part of an art project named 'Deus in Machina' (God in a Machine), allows worshipers at St Peter's Church in Lucerne to engage with a digitally-rendered version of Jesus Christ for their confessions.
The AI Jesus hologram enables worshipers to voice their concerns and questions, receiving responses from the digital representation of Jesus. Surprisingly, over two-thirds of individuals who interacted with AI Jesus reported having a 'spiritual' experience during their confessions.
One worshiper expressed their amazement, stating, 'I was surprised, it was so easy, and though it's a machine, it gave me so much advice.' However, not all visitors were equally impressed, with some branding the avatar's advice as 'generic' and dismissing it as 'a gimmick'.
Visitors to the church can sit in a confessional booth where a screen displays the face of AI Jesus, responding to their questions by interpreting their words and providing animated answers synced with computer-generated speech. Remarkably, AI Jesus is programmed to communicate in 100 different languages to accommodate the diverse visitors in Lucerne.
Upon entering the confessional booth, worshipers are greeted by AI Jesus cautioning them not to disclose personal information and to use the service at their own risk. The interaction begins when the individual presses a button and speaks aloud, initiating a dialogue with the AI hologram.
Many visitors approached AI Jesus with questions about scripture and sought spiritual guidance. One visitor shared their experience, saying, 'He was able to reaffirm me in my ways of going about things and help me with questions I had on how I can help other people understand him better.'
The AI Jesus hologram was developed by a collaboration between computer scientists and theologians from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Trained on the New Testament and online religious information, AI Jesus possesses a deep understanding of scripture and religious debates to address a wide range of queries.
Despite initial concerns about potential biases due to the training data, the creators affirm that AI Jesus aligns with the theological principles of St Peter's Chapel. The project aims to spark conversations about the intersection of AI and religion, with the hope of exploring the role of technology in spiritual practices.
While some view AI-powered chatbots as a potential future support system in churches, others remain cautious about the implications of integrating AI into religious contexts. Professor Peter Kirchschläger from the University of Lucerne emphasises the importance of human involvement in matters of faith and pastoral care, highlighting the unique capabilities of humans in these domains.
The 'Deus in Machina' project was open to the public from August 23 to October 20, with additional events scheduled until the end of November.
St Peter's Church in Lucerne introduces an AI-powered Jesus hologram for confessions.
Worshipers can interact with the digitally-rendered Jesus for spiritual guidance.
AI Jesus communicates in 100 languages and offers advice based on scripture and theological knowledge.
Source: DAILYMAIL