Korea IT Times celebrates its 20th anniversary with Insightful columns from local and international thought leaders. Following contributions from experts across various fields in July, August, September, October, and November, we now introduce this December's column.
-
Jin Hyung Kim, Emeritus Professor at KAIST: "AI Jesus Speaking 100 Languages, Miracle or Threat?"
-
Jong-Shik Kim, Chair Professor of aSSIST University: "An Aging Society and Startups"
-
Emanuel Pastreich, President of The Asia Institute: "Yoon Fights Dirty, Are Koreans Ready?"
-
Sven Lindström, Executive VP, Midsummer: "Solar Energy Trends in 2025"
By Jin Hyung Kim
A few years ago, a pastor and former high school classmate invited me to give a lecture on artificial intelligence (AI) at a theological college. Upon arriving, I was surprised to see a poster advertising my talk, titled "Can AI Have Faith?" As a scientist and engineer, I'd always viewed AI as a tool, so the question of AI's capacity for faith surprised me.
I couldn't improvise a different lecture on the spot, so I proceeded as planned, explaining the nature of AI, its potential, and its limitations. I also gave AI's ethical implications and potential role in human prosperity and happiness. However, the reaction of the audience was sour. I was annoyed because I thought, 'I've come to the wrong place. I made my last remarks in a thirsty voice. I don't know if it's possible to make an AI with faith, but I can make an AI pastor instead of a sermon. Most theologians who listened to the lecture were probably very offended. Anyone would feel bad if an AI replaced their job. As a professor, I would feel pretty bad if AI took over software development or if AI could play the role of a professor. A pastor friend who invited me said quietly that preaching is not the only role of a pastor.
The recent creation of "AI Jesus," however, was not an AI pastor but rather an AI representation of Jesus himself. This wasn't an AI leading a faith but an AI embodiment of its core figure. Jesus holds central significance in Christianity, offering spiritual comfort and teaching to many. Peters Chapel in Switzerland sought to explore the intersection of religion and technology by using AI to embody this symbolism. In August 2024, they launched the experiment. The "AI Jesus" system, capable of communicating in 100 languages, was installed in the confessional, allowing visitors to directly interact with the AI for a religious experience. The underlying technology was likely a large language model (LLM), an advanced AI trained on massive text data sets, capable of human-like conversation in multiple languages. This likely enabled "AI Jesus" to communicate in 100 languages and offer spiritual counsel. The experiment demonstrated an attempt to adapt religion to the modern era by merging traditional faith with advanced technology.
Over two months, over 1,000 visitors interacted with "AI Jesus," with approximately 230 providing feedback. Results were mixed: about two-thirds reported a positive spiritual experience. However, the remainder criticized the interactions as unrealistic and the responses as clichéd, lacking human warmth and depth. Many noted a sense of mechanical repetition and monotony, highlighting the absence of genuine emotional exchange—empathy and emotional responsiveness—crucial in human communication.
The "AI Jesus" experiment also sparked controversy within the church. Catholics opposed using the confessional, arguing it undermined its sacredness. Protestants expressed concerns about potential idolatry stemming from a digital representation of Jesus. Others worried about the AI misinterpreting or distorting Jesus' teachings, or producing responses inconsistent with religious doctrine. This is understandable, considering LLMs are prone to "hallucinations"—generating incorrect information—at a rate of approximately one in five or six responses. The experiment demonstrated AI's limitations, particularly regarding the sensitivity required when addressing religious issues.
Ultimately, "AI Jesus" was deactivated due to ethical and theological concerns. The potential for misrepresenting Jesus' teachings or contradicting doctrine was deemed too high, potentially leading to theological confusion. Opposition to using an AI in a sacred space also contributed to the decision. Nevertheless, the experiment demonstrated the potential for merging technology and faith, revealing a societal desire for novel forms of spiritual experience beyond traditional interactions. "AI Jesus" represents an attempt to redefine religious experience in the modern world, moving beyond mere technological curiosity. It explores the human spiritual landscape through technology, investigating the possibility of technological sources of spiritual comfort and guidance.
This experiment ultimately raised the question of how deeply technology can penetrate the religious domain. People still want to have faith-based conversations, but there are still many questions about whether machines can be the medium for those conversations and whether they can provide the same level of faith-based comfort as humans. What can we expect from the boundary between technology and faith? This question will be an important indicator for exploring what the religious experience of the future will look like beyond the success and failure of the AI Jesus.
About the Author
Dr. Jin Hyung Kim is an emeritus professor at KAIST with 50 years of expertise in AI and software computing. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Seoul National University and a Ph.D. in computer science from UCLA. Dr. Kim has held prominent positions, including senior researcher at the Hughes Institute for Artificial Intelligence, director of the Software Policy Institute, and president of the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute. He has also served as a professor at KAIST, president of several institutions, and acted as chair professor at Chung-Ang University. A life member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, Dr. Kim has received numerous accolades, including the 2010 Korea Internet Awards' Chairman’s Award for Individual Achievement, the Green Bird Distinguished Service Medal in 2015, and the Internet Award in 2001. He has authored several books, including "The Best Class in AI with Professor Jin Hyung Kim of KAIST."
