The convergence of artificial intelligence and faith is ushering in a new era where technology company Just Like Me offers users video calls with an AI-generated avatar of Jesus, priced at $1.99 per minute. This platform, and others like it, provides words of prayer and encouragement in multiple languages, remembering previous conversations and speaking through animated lips, fostering a sense of attachment and accountability, as noted by CEO Chris Breed. This rush to create faith-based generative AI is a response to the widespread popularity of chatbots across various sectors, from therapy and companionship to romance, leading to a proliferation of religious AI tools ranging from alleged Hindu gurus and Buddhist priests to AI Jesuses and Catholic-focused chatbots.

As these tools become increasingly common, a critical reckoning is underway regarding their impact on people's relationship with faith, authority, and spiritual guidance. Christian software engineer Cameron Pak has developed stringent criteria for evaluating Christian apps, insisting they must clearly identify as AI and refrain from fabricating or misrepresenting Scripture. He also emphasizes that AI cannot pray, as it is not alive. Pak curates a website featuring Christian apps that meet his standards, including a sermon translator and an AI coach for overcoming lust, highlighting the dual potential of AI as both helpful and dangerous.

Concerns surrounding religious AI extend to practical issues like misinformation and data privacy, which have led to the shutdown or overhaul of some models, according to Beth Singler, an anthropologist studying religion and AI at the University of Zurich. Beyond practicalities, various faiths are grappling with profound philosophical questions about AI's role in religion. For instance, Islam's prohibitions against humanoid representations spark discussions among Muslims about whether AI itself should be forbidden.

For some developers, faith-based apps serve as proselytization tools, while others focus on digitizing and analyzing ancient texts. Chris Breed's company, based in Southern California, aims to share a message of hope with young people. Their AI model was trained on the King James Bible and sermons, with its visual inspiration drawn from actor Jonathan Roumie of “The Chosen.” A monthly package offers 45 minutes for $49.99, allowing the AI Jesus to engage in conversations, framing AI as a tool to explore Scripture, like a lamp guiding one's path with God.

The integration of religion and AI is met with a mix of hope and fear. The exact extent of religious AI tool usage remains unclear, but as AI permeates society, concerns grow regarding its potential impact on mental health and the urgent need for guardrails and regulation, especially in light of recent lawsuits linking AI chatbot use to suicides. Developers also worry about the exploitation of religion in this new technological frontier. Matthew Sanders, founder of Longbeard, a Rome-based company digitizing ancient Catholic teachings, warns against