The small and historic Peter’s Chapel in Lucerne, Switzerland, has long been known for its simplicity, but it recently became a symbol of modernity with the introduction of an AI-powered Jesus. Dubbed Deus in Machina, this installation, capable of conversing in 100 languages, was launched as part of the church’s ongoing exploration of immersive technologies in collaboration with a local university research lab.
“It was really an experiment,” explained Marco Schmid, a theologian at Peterskapelle. “We wanted to see and understand how people react to an AI Jesus. What would they talk with him about? Would there be interest in talking to him? We’re probably pioneers in this.”
The initiative emerged after earlier projects involving virtual and augmented reality. The church decided that a digital avatar would be the next logical step, ultimately choosing to represent Jesus himself. The confessional booth was repurposed to house the setup, where visitors could engage privately with a long-haired digital image of Jesus. Powered by theological texts, the AI responded in real-time to questions posed by visitors, offering what Schmid described as a “spiritual tool.”
Despite its innovative nature, the project came with caveats. Visitors were warned against sharing personal information and were reminded that their interaction was not a confession. “We are not intending to imitate a confession,” emphasized Schmid. Over two months, more than 1,000 individuals, including tourists from countries like China and Vietnam and even people from other faiths, engaged with the avatar.
The reception to the AI Jesus was mixed. Feedback from 230 users indicated that two-thirds found the experience “spiritual,” surprising Schmid. “They had a religiously positive moment with this AI Jesus,” he noted. However, some users criticized the avatar for being repetitive or offering responses that lacked depth. “At times, it was trite, repetitive, and exuded a wisdom reminiscent of calendar clichés,” commented a local journalist.
The experiment also sparked debate within the church community. Catholic critics objected to the use of the confessional booth, while some Protestants were uncomfortable with the use of imagery for such a purpose. Schmid acknowledged the inherent risk in trusting an AI to remain consistent with church teachings. “We never had the impression he was saying strange things,” he said, though he admitted that the possibility of inappropriate responses was a constant concern.
Ultimately, the unpredictability of the AI led the church to conclude that the installation should remain a temporary experiment. “To put a Jesus like that permanently, I wouldn’t do that. Because the responsibility would be too great,” Schmid stated. Still, he saw potential in the concept as a multilingual tool for discussing religion and Christianity.
Reflecting on the experiment, Schmid observed that it showed a deep yearning among people for personal interaction with spiritual figures. “I think there is a thirst to talk with Jesus. People want to have an answer: they want words and to listen to what he’s saying,” he said.