An AI church service by the ChatGPT chatbot was attended by hundreds of worshippers in Germany.

In Bavaria, Germany, hundreds of Protestants attended a church service led by a ChatGPT chatbot. The AI-led service included prayer, music, sermons, and blessings. The event drew significant interest, with people forming a long queue outside the church before it started.

The service was part of a larger convention for Protestants, where believers gather to pray, sing, discuss their faith, and address current world issues. The convention, which takes place every two years, took place in the Bavarian towns of Nuremberg and the neighboring Fuerth. (The Journal)

The AI service itself was primarily created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian from the University of Vienna, with the AI delivering the sermon. It comprised 40 minutes of prayer, music, sermons and blessings.

The AI-generated avatars on the screen above the altar led the congregation, and conveyed messages of moving forward from the past, addressing present challenges, conquering the fear of death, and maintaining unwavering trust in Jesus Christ.

However, some churchgoers found the lack of emotional expression and monotonous delivery off-putting. Others were more critical of the AI service: “ChatGPT-Delivered Sermons. A.I. is now a religious leader. Looks like the unveiling of the antichrist/beast system,” read an online comment.

Despite these mixed reactions, the AI church service provided a unique experience, sparking discussions about the role of technology in religious practices.

Related Story: Could ChatGPT Provide Therapy To Mental Illness Patients?

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash/Photo by ilgmyzin on Unsplash