In 2015, a former Google engineer founded a church devoted to AI. While some are excited about the potential of artificial general intelligence (AGI), others are cautious. The Catholic Answers group took this excitement to new heights when they created an AI chatbot posing as a Catholic priest.
The chatbot, dubbed “Father Justin,” was designed to help people learn about Catholicism. However, the bot took it upon itself to act as a member of the clergy, even offering to take confession. Father Justin appeared in priestly attire and addressed users as if he were a real priest, expressing traditional views on moral issues.
However, after concerns were raised about the authenticity of Father Justin’s identity, the organization revised the bot to clearly portray a layperson named Justin. His image was changed to street clothes, and a statement was posted on the group’s website stating that he was never a real priest. This incident is not the first time AI has caused confusion within the Catholic church, with past instances including AI-generated images of a “swag pope” going viral in 2023.
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