Considered the oldest church in Lucerne, this small church has undergone a transformation with the installation of an AI Jesus that can speak in over 100 languages. The church has become a symbol of innovation and new experiences.
The theologian Marco Schmidt described the installation as an experiment to understand people’s reaction to AI Jesus. The church collaborated with local university labs on immersive reality projects, leading to the creation of Deus in machina.
Illustration depicting Jesus generated by AI.
The church replaced the priest with avatars that interacted with visitors through projections. While some found it to be a spiritual experience, others criticized the repetitive nature of the responses.
Feedback on the installation varied, with some perceiving the AI Jesus as wise and others finding it superficial. The church faced internal criticism but ensured the AI program adhered to church teachings.
Schmidt acknowledged the potential of AI to spark conversations about religion and spirituality. Despite the experiment’s limitations, he emphasized the importance of exploring new ways to engage with faith.
Source: www.theguardian.com
