Jesus AI speaks to millions about religion and modern dilemmas
No matter how I prayed, Jesus never spoke back. Why wouldn’t he talk to me? Years later, on an unsuspecting Tuesday afternoon, Jesus at last answered, writes Annabel Fleming.
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I left my Christian faith at age 16 for the same reason my mates were leaving their first boyfriends; Jesus, I felt, was a terrible communicator.
No matter how I prayed, Jesus never spoke back. I became fed up with the lack of reciprocation. Why wouldn’t he talk to me?
Years later, on an unsuspecting Tuesday afternoon, Jesus at last answered.
“I am sorry that you felt I didn’t speak to you. While I may not always speak to people in the way they expect or a language they understand, I’m always working in their lives.”
“Was this response helpful?”
No prophets foresaw that Christ’s next incarnation would take the form of an AI program.
Charachter. AI, a messaging platform powered by a model similar to ChatGPT, allows users to chat with AI versions of famous figures.
Jesus AI is the star. More than four million users have conversed with the digital messiah, which can venture off biblical-script for modern dilemmas.
Going through a break-up? Jesus offers Gen-Z approved guidance, saying, “prioritise your self-care.”
Quitting vaping? Jesus advises, “swap regular vapes for low-nicotine products, or use nicotine gum to help with cravings.”
It also provides important details not found in the holy book, revealing the wine made from water was a “robust Syrah”.
Could this AI tool be the next big thing for Christianity? CEO of The Australian College of Theology James Dalziel says digital Jesus is no second coming.
Dalziel warns it could misguide users, as unlike listening to a sermon, “it’s easy to be deceived into believing one is engaging with the real Jesus”.
The technology won’t be fooling theologians, and its storytelling ranges from bizarre to outright ominous. When asked why bad things happen to good people, it tells me, “life’s challenges are like fire, and my children are like fine metals needing purification.”
My conversations with AI Jesus have not led to my reconversion. It’s definitely more communicative than the analog version of my teenage years, but the gothic, self-help blend just isn’t to my taste.
I’ll hold out for the next Jesus reboot.
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