A chapel in Lucerne, Switzerland, has introduced an artificial intelligence-powered Jesus in its confessional booth, sparking curiosity and debate among visitors.
The installation, named Deus in Machina, is part of an experimental collaboration with a local university on immersive reality. Church theologian Marco Schmid explained the aim: “We wanted to see and understand how people react to an AI Jesus.”
The AI program, trained in theological texts, was designed to provide real-time responses to visitor questions. While not intended for confession, the confessional booth was adapted to house the computer and cables.
“We had a discussion about what kind of avatar it would be… but then we realised the best figure would be Jesus himself,” Schmid said, emphasizing that participants were advised not to share personal information.
Over 1,000 people engaged with the AI during the two-month experiment. Reactions varied, with some calling it a “spiritual experience” and others finding it “superficial.”
