Artificial Jesus offers salvation

A Jamaican pastor is warning that artificial intelligence tools (AI) designed to simulate conversations with Jesus Christ could distort Christian belief and "reduce the living Lord to a digital construct".

The caution from Pastor Shawn S. Wilson, a Seventh-day Adventist minister in the Central Jamaica Conference, comes amid growing interest in AI platforms that generate responses in the voice or likeness of Christ, often marketed as tools for guidance and reflection. These tools typically function as chat- or video-based platforms, allowing users to ask personal or spiritual questions and receive instant responses framed in biblical language. One such platform, Just Like Me, invites users to "talk to Jesus" through an AI-generated figure, promising emotional support, personalised advice, and daily mentorship to navigate anxiety, identity, and personal struggles.

These interactions are not entirely free. Users are offered limited trial minutes before being prompted to subscribe, with options including per-minute charges or monthly plans for continued conversations. The service is positioned as a form of "spiritual companionship", raising concerns about the growing commercialisation of faith-based experiences, particularly as users may turn to such platforms during moments of emotional vulnerability. Globally, the rise of conversational AI has seen millions turn to such platforms for advice, including on deeply personal matters.

According to the website, tools can make biblical teachings more accessible, particularly for younger, digitally engaged audiences. But for Wilson, the implications run far deeper.

"AI is shaped by human assumptions and limitations, so what it presents as 'Jesus' may simply reflect what its creators believe He would say," he cautioned. For some users, however, that distinction is not always clear. One young Jamaican man, who said he recently experimented with the platform out of curiosity, described the experience as "comforting, but unsettling".

"I asked it, 'What would Jesus say to me right now?' and the response felt personal, almost like I was being seen," he said. "But then I had to stop and ask myself... 'Who am I really talking to'?"

Still, for users navigating personal struggles, the appeal of instant, tailored responses can be difficult to ignore.

"It's faster than praying," he admitted. "And it doesn't feel like you're being judged, it feels different."

"It responds immediately, and it sounds... reassuring," he added. "Like it knows exactly what to say to calm you down." He admitted that at one point, he forgot that it wasn't real.

"I had to remind myself that this is just a system responding to me, not actually Jesus," he told THE STAR. "And that's the scary part. Because if you're not careful, you could start relying on it instead of actually seeking God."

That tension is exactly what concerns Wilson.

"Jesus Christ is not merely a wise communicator or moral teacher," he said. "He is the image of the invisible God and the Word made flesh. A machine can process religious language, but it cannot embody divinity, holiness, or saving power."

He warned that once users begin asking AI systems to speak as Christ, rather than about Him, the line between tool and misrepresentation becomes dangerously thin, raising questions not just of accuracy, but of worship.

"God has already revealed His Son through Scripture, by the Holy Spirit, not through synthetic imitation," Wilson said, adding that such tools could function as modern-day representations of God that risk misleading believers.

On the issue of accountability, Wilson argued that responsibility lies with both developers and users.

"To place words in Christ's mouth is a serious thing," he said. "But believers are also accountable. Christians are called to test all things by the Word of God."

Wilson warned that convenience should never be mistaken for truth.

"Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, not by interacting with an algorithm," he said. "Technology can create the illusion of spiritual depth while actually weakening the disciplines that produce genuine maturity."

He also questioned the reliability of such tools, noting that even widely used AI systems like ChatGPT are known to produce inaccurate or misleading responses.

"AI is not spiritually trustworthy simply because it sounds intelligent or confident," he said.

As digital tools continue to evolve, Wilson is urging Christians to approach them with caution and discernment.

"Let technology remain a servant, not a saviour," he said. "Because the voice of Christ is not something that can be programmed."