(read this post in German here)
Spiritual Avatars
Part of this project was an art installation, which visitors were able to experience for the duration of two months in the confession booth of the Peterskapelle. The installation enabled the visitors to interact with the character of AI Jesus, who listened to their questions and offered answers in one hundred different languages.
From this dialogue between human and AI, important questions arose: Can a machine address a person in a religious and spiritual manner? Can humans entrust existential questions to a machine and accept its answers? How does AI behave in a spiritual context? The project «Deus in Machina» aims to foster thought and discussions about the limits of technology in the context of religion.
The Immersive Realities Research Lab is conducting a related study together with the Pastoraltheologischen Fakultät der Universität Luzern and the Peterskapelle Luzern. The aim of the study is to examine the topics and themes, which are mentioned in conversations with AI systems for spiritual purposes. It also analyses how the AI reacts to and works with those topics and themes.
The project was realised in the context of the 100 year anniversary of the Lukasgesellschaft (Artmap).
The exhibition is also part of the Lucerne city art festival Kunsthoch.
From August 23rd to October 20th, the visitors could interact with the artwork in the Peterkapelle Luzern. There were several events during which the developers were present.
Vernissage «Anschalten der Maschine»
August 23rd, 2024, 19:00.
Lesung mit KI 12nach12
August 31st, 2024, 12:12.
Finissage «Abschalten der Maschine»
Oktober 20th, 2024, 17:00.
Symposium «Sakrale Simulation: Die KI im spirituellen Dialog»
27. November, 18:30.
Finissage
The machine was turned off on October 20th. A finissage was conducted, during which there was an open discussion with the visitors. There was a final conversation with AI Jesus about the topics death and life after death.
Related Press Publications
| The Guardian November 2024 | Deus in machina: Swiss church installs AI-powered Jesus |
| Daily Mail November 2024 | Church in Switzerland is using an AI-powered Jesus hologram to take confession |
| SRF 2 Kultur August 2024 | Keine Offenbarung: Zu Besuch beim Luzerner KI-Jesus |
| Blogbeitrag HSLU Informatik August 2024 | Kirche, Kunst und KI: Dialog mit einem Jesus-Avatar |
| RTSreligion August 2024 | Une intelligence artificielle qui incarne Jésus dans la Peterskapelle de Lucerne |
| Zentralplus August 2024 | Im Beichtstuhl gegenüber KI-Jesus? In Luzern bald möglich |
| Pilatus today August 2024 | Kunstprojekt in Luzern: Kommuniziere mit dem KI-Jesus |
| NZZ August 2024 | Oh, mein Bot! |
Project Facts
| Project type | Service |
| Duration | 01.02.2024-1.12.2024 |
| Project partner | Peterskapelle Luzern |
| Project team | Philipp Haslbauer, Aljosa Smolic, Mike Pullen |