A Catholic church in Lucerne, Switzerland, has sparked conversation online by installing an artificial intelligence hologram of Jesus in one of its confessionals. The project, “Deus in Machina (God in the Machine),” invites visitors to speak with the hologram as part of an art installation meant to provoke thought about the role of technology in faith, according to multiple reports.
Located in St. Peter’s Chapel, Lucerne’s oldest Catholic church, the installation was launched in August ahead of the parish’s 100th anniversary.
According to the news website Swiss Info, visitors are greeted by the hologram with a simple, “Peace be with you, brother,” regardless of gender, and are encouraged to share “whatever is troubling your heart today.”
One participant said they were given advice by the artificial Jesus on how to think about technology in the modern age. “At a time of … rapid change, the core of our faith remains unchanged,” Anna Jungen of Swiss Info reports hearing from the AI Jesus. “Love, hope and faith – think about how using technology in this way could strengthen or question faith.”
Theologian Marco Schmid, one of the creators, told the website that the goal is to spark reflection on where technology fits in religious life. And it’s not meant to replace traditional confessional practices or human dialogue, according to Mr. Schmid, who added that the booth was chosen to create a private space for the experiment.
The AI program was trained on biblical scripture and theological texts, though Mr. Schmid admits users have said the responses can feel generic. “I’m glad that the avatar still comes across to a certain extent as a technical object,” he said, emphasizing that the focus is more on exploring ideas than providing deep spiritual guidance.
While the installation has drawn interest, some visitors have criticized the choice to depict Jesus, even as a hologram. But Mr. Schmid and his team stress it’s an art project, not a substitute for Catholic sacraments — and church staff are available nearby for those who prefer a human interaction.
The parish plans to share feedback from the project during a discussion on November 27.
• Emma Ayers can be reached at eayers@washingtontimes.com.
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