Technology continues to push boundaries, and this time it reaches into the realm of spirituality. In Lucerne, Switzerland, near the Alps and along the stunning shores of Lake Lucerne, St. Peter’s Church is redefining the confession experience through an art project called “Deus in Machina” (God in the Machine). This project features an AI-powered Jesus hologram that listens to visitors’ confessions and provides responses based on religious texts.
This holographic Jesus animates through a screen, moving its face as it responds to users’ questions. Impressively, this AI-powered Jesus can serve tourists visiting Lucerne in 100 different languages.
While some describe this innovative approach as "inspiring," others find the advice from this digital consultant to be "generic and commonplace," dismissing it merely as a "spectacle." Moreover, these discussions open up the potential for broader dialogues about the role AI can play in fields like religion and spirituality.
Can AI be used like a digital therapist, offering faith support whenever needed, or does it risk mechanizing our spirituality? The project at St. Peter’s Church serves as a profound example, prompting us to question the capacity of artificial intelligence to provide spiritual guidance, almost like a dystopia.
Visual Reference: TechRadar