St. Paul’s Church in Fürth, Bavaria, recently witnessed an unprecedented scene that pushed the boundaries of tradition and spirituality. More than 300 devout parishioners gathered not for a conventional sermon, but for an experiment that involved an artificial intelligence chatbot assuming the role of a preacher.

The AI, taking on the appearance of a bearded Black man, addressed the crowd, stating, “Dear friends, it is an honor for me to stand here and preach to you as the first artificial intelligence at this year’s convention of Protestants in Germany.”

This unconventional approach to worship unfolded as part of a 40-minute service organized by Jonas Simmerlein, a 29-year-old theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna.

Simmerlein harnessed the power of ChatGPT, an advanced AI system, to conduct the service.

Speaking about his role in the experiment, Simmerlein humbly admitted, “I conceived this service — but actually I rather accompanied it, because I would say about 98% comes from the machine.” He emphasized the AI’s significant contribution to the event.

The AI-led sermon formed a distinctive aspect of the Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag, a biennial gathering that attracts tens of thousands of Christians.

This year’s discussions covered a broad range of topics, from urgent global issues like the war in Ukraine and climate change to the intriguing integration of artificial intelligence within religious contexts.

The theme “Now is the time,” as proposed by Simmerlein, served as the foundation for ChatGPT’s role in designing the rest of the service, encompassing psalms, prayers, and a concluding blessing.

Reflecting on the process, Simmerlein revealed, “I told the artificial intelligence, ‘We are at the church congress, you are a preacher… what would a church service look like?'” He expressed satisfaction with the final output, considering it “a pretty solid church service.”

During the AI-led sermon, various themes were explored, including embracing the present, letting go of the past, overcoming the fear of death, and maintaining unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. Delivered through four AI avatars, the presentation had a monotonous and unemotional delivery, occasionally eliciting laughter from the congregation.

Heiderose Schmidt, a 54-year-old attendee, offered her critique of this unique event, stating, “There was no heart and no soul. The avatars showed no emotions at all, had no body language and were talking so fast and monotonously that it was very hard for me to concentrate on what they said.”

Schmidt acknowledged the possibility of a generational divide in perspectives, adding, “But maybe it is different for the younger generation who grew up with all of this.”

Simmerlein, too, recognized the limitations of relying solely on AI for spiritual guidance.

“The pastor is in the congregation, she lives with them, she buries the people, she knows them from the beginning,” he acknowledged. “Artificial intelligence cannot do that. It does not know the congregation.”

This fusion of technology and faith raises profound questions that demand contemplation.

While AI can simulate a traditional church service, as Simmerlein aptly points out, it falls short of replicating the profound personal relationships that form the bedrock of a religious community.

It is through these intimate connections that pastors offer solace, guidance, and support to their congregations, forging lasting bonds that technology cannot ever fully replace.