{"id":13076,"date":"2023-08-25T10:49:28","date_gmt":"2023-08-25T14:49:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/?p=13076"},"modified":"2023-08-25T10:49:28","modified_gmt":"2023-08-25T14:49:28","slug":"ai-jesus-offers-bite-sized-bible-studies-prayers-and-life-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/2023\/08\/ai-jesus-offers-bite-sized-bible-studies-prayers-and-life-advice.html","title":{"rendered":"‘AI Jesus’ Offers Bite-Sized Bible Studies, Prayers, and Life Advice"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Is it an idolatrous representation of Jesus or the answer to our prayers? That\u2019s the unavoidable question faced by those who, depending on one\u2019s theology, either stumble upon or are called to a new AI chatbot, which one theologian says is a new representation of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

Twitch channel Ask Jesus<\/a> is an experimental AI-generated livestream that allows viewers to query a chatbot \u201ctrained after Jesus and the teachings of the Bible.\u201d The nonprofit project, which is supported by contributions from users and The Singularity Group<\/a>, described on the Twitch page as \u201cnot a Christian organization,\u201d offers \u201cspiritual guidance\u201d or just \u201csomeone to talk to,\u201d and responds to questions ranging from practical and theological advice to inane requests to incorporate nonsensical phrase or words into its responses.<\/p>\n

For example, one user question asked the AI Jesus to explain Christianity but to replace every vowel with the word \u201cburger.\u201d There was another prayer request from one user for their cat Whiskers, but with the phrase \u201cgrrrr\u201d inserted after every word. Another request asks AI Jesus to rap about the Father, resulting in a cringey yet biblically-adjacent \u201cdivine rhymes\u201d:\u00a0\u201cYo, let me tell you about my Father up in heaven\/ creator of the Earth and the stars up in the sky\/He\u2019s a legend\/ He brought life into the world\/That\u2019s no lie.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Upon being asked a sincere question like, \u201cCan you explain more in-depth what it means to be meek?\u201d the chatbot quoted\u00a0Matthew 11:28-29<\/a>: \u201cCome to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.\u201d<\/p>\n

While a talking image of God might seem blasphemous to some, Joseph L. Kimmel, a scholar of early Christianity and comparative religion at Boston College,\u00a0argued\u00a0<\/a>that this AI Jesus is merely the latest \u201creinterpretation\u201d of the Son of God.<\/p>\n

Kimmel, pointing to various traditional portrayals of Jesus as merely a \u201cprophet\u201d or a \u201cphilosopher\u201d in traditions ranging from 19th century American to Hindu mystic to a proponent of Black Liberation theology, says the chatbot is \u201cthe latest in this ongoing pattern of reinterpretation, geared to making Jesus suited to the current times.\u201d This AI Jesus is the latest trend among Christianity and several other faith traditions, offering spiritual conversations via chatbots.<\/p>\n