What happened when I tried texting Jesus…

A few weeks ago, as I was engaging in my usual pastime of mindlessly scrolling through social media, I was hit with a curious-looking advert inviting me to “chat with AI Jesus”. 

At first I thought it was a joke, or perhaps satire. The image used – twee yet instantly recognisable – was of a white, blue-eyed Jesus looking serene and rosy-cheeked with a halo atop his head. Intrigued, I clicked on the ad and was taken to a page encouraging me to download the “divine connection in my pocket”. This AI-powered chatbot promised to connect me in text-form to our Lord and saviour, the apostles and other biblical figures. It’s clear about its limits though, stating: “The app is a tool for reflection and learning, not a replacement for prayer or personal faith.” Noted.