AI Jesus Takes Confessions In Swiss Chapel

A Lucerne chapel uses an AI Jesus avatar for confessions, sparking debate over technology’s role in faith and pastoral care.

In Lucerne, Switzerland, a chapel has introduced an unconventional confessional experience where an AI, designed with the likeness of Jesus, takes the place of a traditional priest, as reported on Monday by Deutsche Welle (DW).

Upon entering, users are met with a clear disclaimer from the virtual Jesus: “Do not disclose personal information under any circumstances, use this service at your own risk, press the button if you accept.”

The AI, capable of speaking 100 languages, is part of an installation called “Deus in Machina”.

It was developed by the church in collaboration with the Immersive Realities Research Lab at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. The initiative aims to explore how technology can intersect with spiritual practices, as previously reported by SWI.

Marco Schemed, a theologian at the chapel, explains more about the project, saying to DW: “What we are doing here is an experiment. We wanted to launch the discussion by letting people have a very concrete experience with AI. That way we have a foundation for talking about it.”

He also sees potential for AI in pastoral care, citing its accessibility. “It’s easy, 24 hours a day. So, it has abilities that pastors don’t,” he adds to DW.

However, the initiative has drawn criticism. For example, Peter G. Kirchschlager, a theologian and philosopher at Lucerne University, expressed reservations about its implications.

“We should be careful when it comes to faith, pastoral care, when finding meaning into religion,” Kirchschlager warns. “That’s an area where we humans are vastly superior to machines, so we should do these things ourselves.”

Despite this claim, the experiment has received positive feedback, with two-thirds of users reporting a meaningful experience.

One participant told DW: “He was able to reaffirm me in my ways of going about things, and he helped me with questions I have, like how I can help people to understand him better, and come closer to him.”

Another remarked: “I was surprised, it was so easy, and though it’s a machine, it gave me so much advice. Also from a Christian point of view, I felt taken care of, and I walked out really consoled.”

The initiative raises deeper questions about the evolving role of technology in religious practice. For example, in an era where AI can take on the role of a confessor, why are women still not allowed to become priests?