What's happened
An experimental art installation featuring an AI-powered avatar of Jesus in a Swiss chapel has prompted over 900 conversations on faith and morality. The project, named 'Deus in Machina,' aimed to explore the intersection of technology and spirituality, revealing mixed reactions from participants about the experience.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Ashifa Kassam in The Guardian, the project was described as an experiment to gauge public reaction to an AI Jesus, with Marco Schmid stating, "We wanted to see and understand how people react to an AI Jesus." Meanwhile, Anthony Cuthbertson from The Independent highlighted that two-thirds of users reported a spiritual experience, although some labeled it a "gimmick." This contrast illustrates the divided opinions on the effectiveness of AI in spiritual contexts. Furthermore, ethical concerns were raised by Peter Kirchschlager, who warned against replacing human priests with machines, emphasizing that faith is an area where humans excel over technology. This sentiment echoes the views of AI philosopher Nick Bostrom, who believes that human-led traditions are essential for genuine spiritual engagement.
How we got here
The 'Deus in Machina' project was launched in August 2024 at Peter's Chapel in Lucerne, Switzerland. It involved an AI avatar of Jesus engaging visitors in discussions about faith, morality, and personal struggles, reflecting the growing interest in AI's role in religious contexts.
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