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Deus in Machina, an innovative and thought-provoking art installation, made waves by presenting an AI-powered version of ‘Jesus’. The AI Jesus was installed inside a confessional at St. Peter's Chapel in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Visitors engaged with the avatar of ‘Jesus’ displayed on a computer screen, asking questions on faith, morality, and modern dilemmas. They received responses rooted in Scripture. This AI Jesus Christ confession exhibit studies the intersection of AI and religion. It aims to pose questions about trust and human reliance on machines.
Many tweets on social media platform X appeared, showcasing Switzerland’s AI Jesus hologram:
The experiment, which ran for two months starting in late August, involved over 900 interactions, some of which were repeated. Visitors anonymously transcribed their conversations, which were later analyzed for insights into how people perceived AI’s role in addressing spiritual and moral queries. The project's success was evident as many visitors left feeling moved, deep in thought, and reflecting on their beliefs.
Many YouTube videos like the following show how AI Jesus confessions worked, with many people experiencing a spiritual feeling after talking with the hologram:
The confessional was selected for its intimate nature. A green light flashed when the visitor could speak, and a red light indicated when ‘AI Jesus’ was responding.
Despite a technical lag in communication that lasted a few seconds, the 300 visitors highlighted the simplicity and accessibility of the interaction. At the end of their sessions, the visitors filled out feedback questionnaires.
Philipp Haslbauer, an IT expert at Lucerne University, was responsible for the technical side of the project. He revealed that the Swiss AI Jesus was powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4o and Whisper, an open-source tool for speech comprehension. While no safeguards were implemented, the system performed well in handling complex topics without breaching controversial or sensitive lines.
The AI Jesus had deep discussions on a wide range of topics, including love, the afterlife, suffering, war, and the existence of God. Other issues that were brought up included the stance of the Catholic Church on homosexuality and its handling of sexual abuse cases.
During one of the exhibits, Haslbauer asked the AI Jesus what its message was to a troubled world. Thoughtfully and insightfully, he said, "All knowledge and wisdom ultimately come from God," and urged people to use AI wisely as a tool to explore creation and Scripture. He also stressed seeking God beyond technology.
The project attracted people of different religious backgrounds, including Christians, agnostics, atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, and Taoists. The AI Jesus was conversant in about 100 languages, offering a broad reach for its users.
While many visitors took the experience seriously, some even shared their concerns on social media as the project was described as ‘blasphemous’ or ‘the work of the devil’.
Marco Schmid, a theologian at the chapel, said that the whole idea was to be understood as an art experiment rather than a replacement for human confession or spiritual guidance. He explained that the AI Jesus was never intended to offer absolutions or prayers but instead to prompt reflection on the role of digital technology in spiritual life.
AI continues to change every aspect of life. Hence, the Catholic Church has been trying to figure out a way to ethically embrace AI in spiritual ways.
The Vatican has named a friar its AI guru. Some people have warmed up to the idea of AI in religion, as it has enabled AI-generated sermons, but others are extremely nervous about how AI threatens to strip humanity of faith.
Kenneth Cukier, an AI and religion expert, said that if the AI Jesus enabled people to connect with themselves and the world more profoundly, it could be a good thing. However, he said that if it was an experience where people are relying on AI for spiritual guidance, then it’s not very authentic to human spirituality. He added that although technology could help explore spirituality better, it might take away meaningful human experiences.
According to Schmid, the man behind the AI Jesus project, it was always meant to be a temporary experiment. There is no plan for a permanent installation, but the project has been of interest to other religious communities, educators, and researchers.
As the team reflects on how to proceed, the success of the experiment and media attention hint that this intersection of faith and technology may continue to evolve in interesting ways.
