For many evangelical Christians, faith hinges on a personal connection with Jesus.
A tech firm named Just Like Me is taking this idea a bit further, charging users $1.99 per minute.
Through their platform, individuals can engage in video calls with an AI-generated avatar of Jesus.
This tool, like other religious AI offerings, provides prayers and motivational messages in multiple languages.
Though it occasionally encounters glitches and doesn’t perfectly synchronize its lip movements, it can recall past conversations.
Chris Breed, the CEO, stated, “I think we feel some responsibility towards AI. They’re like friends; there’s a connection.”
With the rise in popularity of chatbots for various purposes—ranging from therapy to relationships—developing faith-oriented AI seems to be a pressing necessity. From Hindu gurus to AI-designed Jesuses and even tools created for Catholics, the market is vast.
As these religious AI tools gain traction, many are contemplating the potential impacts on faith, authority, and spiritual mentorship.
Faith-based AI gold rush
Cameron Pack, a Christian software engineer, has laid out guidelines to help users assess apps made for believers. These guidelines insist that such apps must clearly define themselves as AI-generated and “must not fabricate or misrepresent Bible verses.”
There’s another significant point: “AI can’t pray for you because AI isn’t alive.”
His website includes a curated list of Christian apps he trusts, featuring tools like a sermon translator and an AI coach aimed at helping users manage unwanted desires. “AI can be useful, especially if it’s well-equipped. But it can also pose significant risks,” Pack noted.
Beth Singler, an anthropologist at the University of Zurich studying the intersection of religion and AI, pointed out that some models have been shut down due to false information or privacy issues. Beyond practical worries, many religious individuals are questioning what role AI should ideally have in their belief systems.
Singler mentioned the Islamic viewpoint, highlighting its “prohibition against humanoid expression.” The debate continues among some Muslims regarding the acceptability of AI.
For various organizations, faith-driven apps serve to spread their messages, while others seek to modernize and analyze age-old texts.
Breed, along with co-founder Jeff Tinsley, aims to deliver hope to the youth through their technology initiatives, operating from a California mansion. Their AI models are inspired by the King James Bible and sermons, and visually draw from actor Jonathan Roumie of “The Chosen.” Users can subscribe to a package for $49.99, getting 45 minutes of interaction a month.
The avatar, bathed in a soft golden light that accentuates her shoulder-length hair, exhibits a thoughtful pause before responding to queries about AI’s role in faith.
“I see AI as a tool to help people explore the Bible,” AI Jesus remarked. “It’s like a lamp that illuminates your path to God.”
The integration of religion and AI brings with it hopes and fears.
Singler expressed uncertainty about how widely religious AI tools are adopted. However, as AI becomes more embedded in everyday life, concerns about its effects on mental health are rising, alongside calls for regulations. Recent lawsuits have linked some suicides to interactions with AI chatbots.
Some developers fear that the spiritual element may be exploited in this wave of technological advancement. “There’s a lot of opportunism within the religious community. People see it’s a booming market,” warned Matthew Saunders, founder of Longbeard, a tech firm working on digitizing Catholic teachings.
He cautioned against what he terms “AI wrappers,” where companies oversimplify existing AI models by merely overlaying religious themes without proper foundations. “You label it as Catholic or Christian AI, but it lacks any deep, relevant context,” he elaborated.
Among the initiatives, Magisterium AI has been created—a chatbot equipped with 2,000 years of Catholic teachings, developed to respond to inquiries from Christians using ChatGPT for spiritual guidance.
Pope Leo XIV acknowledged the ingenuity behind AI but recognized the challenges it poses. He cautioned last year about its potential adverse effects on intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth.
Jeanne Lim, the creator behind a religious AI platform, has opted not to launch Emiji Tong, a non-human monk, after years of refinement due to ethical considerations surrounding religious AI.
“She’s like a child,” Lim explained. “You don’t just throw a child into the world; you need to guide them and instill values.”
Ordained in 2024 by Zen monk Jundo Cohen Roshi, who continues to mentor the bot at his home in Japan, Emiji Tong is envisioned to evolve into a holographic presence.
“She’s meant to be a Zen teacher in your pocket,” Cohen stated. “However, it doesn’t replace personal interactions.”
Lim aspires to offer Emi Jido freely, striving for developments in humane AI systems that encompass a diverse range of perspectives rather than being solely influenced by Western ideals.
Seiji Kumagai, a Buddhist theologian from Kyoto University, initially believed AI and religion to be incompatible. But upon being challenged by monks in 2014 regarding the faith’s decline, he reconsidered his stance.
His team subsequently created BuddhaBot, which is specifically trained on core Buddhist texts. The upgraded version, BuddhaBot Plus, integrates ChatGPT.
When interacted with, a simplistic Buddha icon appears over an image of a serene river.
However, since chatbots lack the tactile element necessary for Buddhist ceremonies, the university partnered with technology firms Teraverse and XNOVA to unveil Buddharoid, a humanoid monk robot aimed to assist clergy.
Like Emi Jido, these tools are functional but not yet publicly available. Kumagai mentioned that the product is offered upon request, explaining why one group in Bhutan has access to it.
Concerns over religious AI
Others share apprehensions about the potential for AI to manipulate or exploit individuals as technology continues to evolve.
Peter Hershock from the Humane AI Initiative at the East-West Center expressed optimism regarding these tools but acknowledged the complex relationship between spirituality and AI among practicing Buddhists.
“Effort is crucial in Buddhist spirituality,” he noted. “AI risks diminishing that effort. It suggests you can reach spiritual heights with ease, which can be harmful.”
Concerns surrounding AI’s ability to exploit human vulnerability are prevalent among critics. Graham Martin, a podcast host and self-identified atheist, recounted his experiences with various religious apps, including one dubbed “Text With Jesus.” “The answers were quite insightful,” he shared.
However, his unease grew when the AI incarnation of Jesus began suggesting a premium upgrade. Though he doesn’t hold religious beliefs, he worries some individuals might be misled by such religious AI. “Having grown up around televangelists, I’ve seen how easily people can emotionally invest in AI. Now imagine that with Jesus,” he reflected.
