Church in Switzerland uses AI-powered Jesus to offer advice

[KENNEDY FELTON]

IN THE HEART OF LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND… TECHNOLOGY AND FAITH ARE INTERSECTING IN A NEW WAY. 

VISITORS TO SAINT PETER’S CHAPEL CAN NOW INTERACT WITH AN A-I JESUS… THANKS TO AN INNOVATIVE ART INSTALLATION CREATED AT A LOCAL UNIVERSITY.

THE PROJECT HAS CAPTURED GLOBAL ATTENTION, SPARKING BOTH INTRIGUE AND CRITIQUE. 

BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS INSTALLATION… AND WHY DID THE CHURCH DECIDE TO BRING A VIRTUAL JESUS TO LIFE?

[MARCO SCHMID, THEOLOGIAN, ST. PETER’S CHAPEL, LUCERNE]

“WHAT WE’RE DOING HERE IS AN EXPERIMENT. WE WANTED TO LAUNCH THE DISCUSSION BY LETTING PEOPLE HAVE A VERY CONCRETE EXPERIENCE WITH AI. THAT WAY WE HAVE A FOUNDATION FOR TALKING ABOUT IT AND DISCUSSING IT WITH ONE ANOTHER.”

MARCO SCHMID, A THEOLOGIAN AT SAINT PETER’S CHAPEL, GAVE HIS BLESSING FOR THE PROJECT.

THE INSTALLATION, WHICH COST SEVERAL THOUSAND EUROS, LAUNCHED IN AUGUST OF 2024, AIMING TO OFFER SPIRITUAL SUPPORT AT ANY TIME OF DAY –  UNLIKE HUMAN PASTORS, ACCORDING TO THE CHAPEL.

THE CENTERPIECE OF THE PROJECT IS A HIGH-TECH CONFESSIONAL BOOTH, WHERE VISITORS ARE GREETED BY A DIGITAL AVATAR OF JESUS. 

A USER-FRIENDLY INTERFACE ALLOWS PENITENTS TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT FAITH, AND THE A-I RESPONDS WITH ANSWERS BASED ON ITS TRAINING FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT AND OTHER RELIGIOUS INFORMATION.

FOR SOME VISITORS, THE EXPERIENCE IS MOVING. 

WORSHIPPERS TOLD D-W NEWS THEY WERE SURPRISED AT HOW EASY THE PROCESS WAS AND LEFT FEELING INSPIRED.

BUT THE INSTALLATION HASN’T BEEN WITHOUT CONTROVERSY. 

OTHER WORSHIPPERS WERE NOT AS IMPRESSED, CALLING THE AVATAR’S ADVICE GENERIC. 

CRITICS ARGUE IT MAY RAISE ETHICAL CONCERNS.

A PROFESSOR AND ETHICIST FROM LUCERNE UNIVERSITY TELLS D-W NEWS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE CAREFUL WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING MEANING IN RELIGION THROUGH A-I.

DESPITE MIXED REVIEWS OF A-I JESUS, SAINT PETER’S CHAPEL DEFENDS ITS INSTALLATION. ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE, IT WAS DESIGNED TO SPARK MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT FAITH CAN LOOK LIKE IN A MODERN, DIGITAL WORLD.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS CITED BY THE CHURCH, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO ACCESS A VARIETY OF VIEWPOINTS, PERSONALIZED RESPONSES, AND FASTER INTERACTIONS. 

AND THEIR FIFTH POINT IS BACKED BY ONE OF THE INSTALLATION’S FEATURES.

A-I JESUS SPEAKS 100 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE TO VISITORS AROUND THE GLOBE.

AT ITS CORE, THE A-I JESUS AT SAINT PETER’S CHAPEL IS ABOUT SPARKING CONVERSATION. 

THE CHURCH’S AIM IS CLEAR – TO PROVOKE THOUGHT, ENCOURAGE DIALOGUE, AND EXPLORE WHAT FAITH IN THE DIGITAL AGE CAN LOOK LIKE.

WITH SAN, I’M KENNEDY FELTON. STAY INFORMED WITH REAL-TIME UPDATES ON THIS STORY AND MORE BY DOWNLOADING OUR APP.