A St. Paul’s Church, in Fürth, Germany, was the scene of an innovative experiment over the weekend when an artificial intelligence chatbot took over the pulpit to conduct a service at a Lutheran church. With the avatar of a bearded black man projected onto a huge screen above the altar, ChatGPTheld an almost entirely AI-generated ceremony, leaving the faithful divided between curiosity and skepticism.

“Dear friends, I am honored to be here and preach to you as the first artificial intelligence at the Protestant convention in Germany this year.“, declared the avatar with a deadpan expression and monotonous voice. The 40-minute ceremony, which includes sermon, prayers and music, was created in collaboration between ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna.

While some believers were enthusiastic and recorded the event on their mobile phones, others were skeptical about the presence of AI in a religious context. Hyderose Schmidt, a 54-year-old IT professional, shared her experience, saying that although she was excited and curious at first, as work progressed, she began to feel disconnected from reality. “There was no heart, no soul“is ventilated”.The avatars showed no emotion, had no body language, and spoke so fast and in a monotone that it was very difficult for me to focus on what they were saying.“

On the other hand, the experiment was praised by some participants, such as Mark Jansen, a 31-year-old Lutheran pastor. Jansen, who brought a group of teenagers from his community to the church, said he was pleasantly surprised by the result. “I thought it would be worse, but I was amazed at how well it worked.“, he said. However, he also emphasized the lack of emotion and spirituality, aspects that he considers fundamental when writing his own sermons.

Controversy about the use of AI is becoming more frequent

Disputes surrounding the inclusion of artificial intelligence in a religious context have flared up. While some see this integration as a way to attract and engage a new generation of believers, others express concern about the lack of authenticity and emotional disconnect that may result. Proponents of AI argue that it can help spread religious messages and make services more accessible.

While the use of AI-powered chatbots in religious services is relatively new, experts agree that it is important to strike a balance between using technology and maintaining basic human qualities such as empathy, spirituality and personal connection. While some believers are willing to embrace innovation, others still prefer the traditional human experience of preaching from a pastor or religious leader.

Furth’s experiment raised important questions and provoked reflection on the role of technology in religion. Despite differences of opinion, it is undeniable that the presence of artificial intelligence in religious services will continue to generate debate and determine the way religious communities adapt to the new technological realities of the 21st century.

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Source: Insider

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