Swiss Church Tests AI-Powered 'Jesus' for Confessional Conversations

The experimental installation in Lucerne's Peterskapelle uses AI to simulate Jesus, sparking discussions on faith, ethics, and technology.

The AI 'Jesus' was part of a two-month art project in Lucerne, Switzerland, designed to engage visitors in spiritual conversations via a confessional setting.
Developed with the New Testament as a training base, the AI provided biblically inspired responses, though some critics noted outdated or uncontextualized interpretations.
The project received mixed reactions: some praised its empathetic responses, while others questioned its theological and ethical implications, including its reliance on stereotypical depictions of Jesus.
Around 60% of participants reported feeling spiritually stimulated, although the rapid, mechanical delivery of answers was seen as a limitation by some users and theologians.
Concerns were raised about the environmental impact of AI's energy consumption and the need for more responsible, sustainable applications in religious contexts.