The Oak Ridge Boys, a gospel quartet in country music, sings a song titled “Just a Little Talk with Jesus.” The old gospel song says a little talk with Jesus can make things right – unless that Jesus is a cheap AI knockoff.
According to Associated Press, Just Like Me, a technology company, has developed an AI Jesus one can go to for spiritual advice. Users can pay $1.99 per minute or $49.9 for 45 minutes per month to join a video call and speak with an avatar that is supposed to imitate the Lord and Savior.
The CEO of the company, Chris Breed, said the AI is visually inspired by the actor of Jesus in “The Chosen,” Jonathan Roumie. He said the AI was trained with the Kind James Version of the Bible and sermons.
AFN’s Steve Jordahl tried it out for this story. Every comment started with some spiritual sounding affirmation, always using his name.
“I hear the longing for someone who can listen and guide, Steve. I can share gentle counsel rooted in Jesus' love,” said AI Jesus.
Each answer ended with a phrase that sounds like a bunch of spiritual words thrown together.
“May God's grace bring you comfort and a path toward openness,” said AI Jesus.
AI Jesus admitted that it wasn't the real Jesus, but AFA's Ed Vitagliano says there is a strong potential of very real spiritual harm, especially for someone in a vulnerable state of mind.
“For people who are lonely, who are disconnected, I can see where it might become a substitute for real relationships,” says Vitagliano.
He was clear — although he says it shouldn't be necessary to say — that a little talk with the real Jesus has help from the real Holy Spirit. That can't be simulated.
“The fact that it may be searching the internet for answers to questions is not really the point. The Spirit of God cannot be replicated via a machine,” says Vitagliano.
