Swiss church unveils ‘AI Jesus’ in art project that melds faith and data

Artificial intelligence (AI) may be grounded in hard numbers but a church in Switzerland is attempting to elevate it to something divine: an AI Jesus.

St Peter’s Church in Lucerne has installed inside its confession booth an ultra-wide monitor that projects a digital image of Jesus Christ.

The monitor is attached to computers that run a program simulating an AI Jesus that dispenses advice and counselling to those on the other side of the booth.

Programmed to speak in 100 languages, the AI Jesus instructs users to not disclose any personal information “under any circumstances”, and reminds them that they will be using the service “at your own risk”.

Users can press a button and proceed to ask questions about their faith or seek advice about the things happening in their lives.

Trying out the service, a reporter for the German TV network DW asked AI Jesus: “Why aren’t women allowed to become priests?”

The answer: “Scriptures teach us that roles are defined within the Church. Each role and task has its place in God’s plan.”

Delving into another thorny topic for the Catholic faith, the reporter asked: “How do I support, from a Christian perspective, an elderly, sick person who has decided on assisted suicide?”

AI Jesus replied: “Perhaps you could ask your loved one the following questions: What does your faith mean to you in this difficult time? Is there anything else in life that could bring you peace or joy? How can I support you and give you comfort?”

AI Jesus is part of a religious-themed art project called Deus Ex Machina or God in the machine that a group of programmers and theologians at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts put together.

The AI curates texts from the New Testament for its responses.

“I was surprised. It was so easy,” one churchgoer told DW. “Although it’s a machine, it gave me so much advice. Also from a Christian point of view, I felt taken (care) of and felt really consoled.”

Another person said: “He was able to reaffirm… my ways of going about things. He helped me with questions I have, like how I can help other people to understand him better and become closer to him.”

Mr Marco Schmid, a theologian at St Peter’s Church, said the project was meant “to launch a discussion by letting people have a very concrete experience with AI”. “That way, we have a foundation for talking about it, discussing it with one another.”

Doubting Thomases

Not everyone was a believer, however.

One sceptic said he asked about breaking the “spiral of violence”. The answer was: “through prayer” and not seeking retribution.

He said with the answer being so obvious, “I see it as a gimmick for sure”.

But Mr Schmid said the project has its merits.

“With AI Jesus available 24 hours a day, it has abilities that pastors don’t,” he said.

Professor Peter Kirchschlager, a theologian and ethicist from Lucerne University, advised caution “when it comes to faith, pastoral care, when finding meaning in religion”.

“That’s an area where we humans are actually vastly superior to machines, so we should do these things ourselves,” he said.