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A church in Lucerne, Switzerland, has introduced an AI-powered Jesus hologram for confessions, sparking curiosity and debate. Known as the "Deus in Machina," the installation at St. Peter’s Church allows worshippers to interact with a digital face of Jesus, programmed to respond with insights drawn from the New Testament and other online resources. One worshipper shared, “I was surprised; it felt easy, and though it’s a machine, it gave me so much advice.” The AI Jesus, fluent in over 100 languages, answered a variety of questions, including moral dilemmas, offering advice like, “Your task is not to judge, but to accompany with love.”
While many visitors were impressed with the confessional experience, some dismissed it as a “gimmick” or criticized the responses as “generic.” The project, developed by computer scientists and theologians from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, was intended as a temporary experiment to explore the role of AI in religion. Marco Schmid, a theologian at the church, explained, “This is an experiment to spark discussions about AI in faith. The goal isn’t to replace Jesus but to provide a foundation for meaningful conversations.” The installation, active this month, raises questions about whether AI can offer 24/7 pastoral care, though some critics argue that machines lack the moral compass required for such roles.
Source: NY Post