How AI Jesus is Transforming the Confession Experience in Switzerland
In Lucerne, Switzerland, St. Peter’s Church has introduced an AI-powered project called “Deus in Machina,” featuring an avatar referred to as “AI Jesus.”
This art installation, developed in collaboration with the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, places the avatar in a confessional booth where visitors can engage in dialogue.
However, the aim is not to replace the sacrament of confession but to spark discussions on the interplay between technology and faith.
The AI Jesus provides responses based on New Testament teachings, and the project raises ethical questions about the role of AI in religious contexts.
While some find it thought-provoking, others criticize it as trivializing the essence of Christianity and misrepresenting theological teachings.
Critics have also expressed concern over the superficiality of the AI’s responses, which occasionally veer into cliché territory.