There's a new presence in a Swiss church, but it's not the one you'd expect. An AI Jesus, the result of a collaboration between computer scientists and theologians, is causing quite a stir. This system, capable of speaking 100 languages and programmed with a deep knowledge of the New Testament, is taking confessions and offering spiritual advice. Reactions are mixed: some find comfort in this digital counselor, while others see the experiment as a dangerous precedent. But what does this fusion of technology and spirituality really mean?
How the confessional AI Jesus works
The project, called God in the Machine, is located in the historic church of San Pietro in Lucerne. Before entering the digital confessional, the system clearly warns: “Do not reveal personal information under any circumstances, use this service at your own risk.” Only after accepting these conditions can the believer come face to face with a digital face of Jesus that appears through the traditional grate of the confessional. Take a look for yourself, there is a video.
The interface was designed to be as natural as possible: the face moves in sync with the words spoken, creating a surprisingly realistic experience. The system was developed by an interdisciplinary team from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, who combined computer science and theological skills.
The most impressive feature? As mentioned, the ability to communicate in 100 different languages, making this experiment accessible to believers from all over the world. It is not just automatic translation: the system has been programmed to maintain theological depth in every conversation.
Faithful Reactions to Digital Jesus
The testimonies collected were surprisingly positive. “I was surprised how easy it was to talk to, and despite being a machine, it gave me a lot of valuable advice,” said one believer. Another visitor shared his experience: “I asked how to break the cycle of violence. The answer was clear: through prayer and not by seeking revenge.” Particularly interesting was the system’s ability to address complex ethical issues. When a believer asked about Christian support for assisted suicide for sick elderly people, the AI Jesus responded with a series of thoughtful questions: “What does faith mean to you in this difficult time? Is there anything else in life that could bring you peace or joy?”
The most significant response was: “Your job is not to judge, but to accompany with love.” A phrase that perfectly summarizes the compassionate approach that the system tries to maintain.
Concerns and Debate About Jesus AI
Not everyone is enthusiastic about this innovation. Professor Peter Kirchschlager, theologian and ethicist of the University of Lucerne, has raised significant concerns: “The machines they lack the moral compass necessary to practice religion. In this field, we humans are actually far superior to machines.”
The theologian Marco Schmid of church of San Pietro admits that the project “has its limitations” and raises ethical questions. However, he stresses that so far all the answers have “coincided with our theological understanding.” The goal is not to replace the figure of Jesus (and how could it be otherwise: the installation is temporary) but to stimulate discussions on the role of AI in religion.
The church also received an ominous warning that the project “will not be without consequences.” Some critics called it a “gimmick,” while others considered the avatar’s advice too “generic.”
The Future of Digital Faith
Schmid sees real potential for the future: “What we are doing here is an experiment, we wanted to start the discussion by making people live a very concrete experience with AI”. An interesting aspect is the possibility of offer 24-hour pastoral support, since virtual priests do not need to sleep.
The experiment, which ended on October 20, will continue to be involved in some events until the end of this month. Another bold attempt (like the bonzi robot or Hindu temples “electronically modified”) to explore how technology can support (not replace) traditional religious practice. I hope so: or in the future we will end up asking for God's HELP.
