A church in Switzerland is breaking new ground by introducing an A.I. hologram of Jesus to provide advice to parishioners. The hologram, known as A.I. Jesus, is the brainchild of theologian Marco Schmid and is housed in a confessional booth at St. Peter’s Chapel in Lucerne.
The experience is designed to resemble a traditional Catholic confession, with churchgoers stepping into the booth for a private moment with A.I. Jesus. The hologram appears as a young man with long black hair and a beard, speaking more than 100 languages and moving in sync with the words it delivers.
According to Schmid, more than 1,000 conversations have already taken place between churchgoers and A.I. Jesus over a 2-month period. However, the hologram is currently viewed as an experiment rather than a permanent replacement for priests. St. Peter’s Chapel, the oldest Catholic church in the city, is hosting this innovative project.
Schmid emphasizes that the A.I. Jesus experience is not a substitute for confession but rather an opportunity for followers to engage with the son of God on various topics that interest them. The responses from A.I. Jesus are not pre-planned, adding an element of mystery to the interactions.
For example, one parishioner asked A.I. Jesus about sending weapons to Ukraine for its conflict with Russia, but the hologram’s response remains unknown. Despite the uncertainty, most people have reported positive experiences with A.I. Jesus, raising questions about the Catholic Church’s readiness to embrace futuristic technology.
As the project continues to evolve, only time will reveal the extent to which A.I. Jesus will impact traditional religious practices. But for now, the A.I. hologram stands as a unique experiment at the intersection of faith and technology.
