New subscription-style service offers real-time conversations with a digital Jesus avatar, raising questions about AI’s role in religious guidance.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A California-based technology firm has launched a paid artificial intelligence platform that allows users to interact with a digital representation of Jesus Christ, part of a broader rise in religious-themed AI services entering the consumer market.
According to reporting by the New York Post, the company Just Like Me enables individuals to engage in video-based conversations with an AI-generated figure designed to simulate spiritual dialogue, offering responses such as prayers and encouragement in multiple languages. The service operates on a per-minute fee structure and includes memory features that retain details from prior interactions, though the visual rendering has shown occasional inconsistencies between speech and facial movement.
Company chief executive Chris Breed described the interaction as one that can foster a sense of connection. “You do feel a little accountable to the AI,” he said. “They’re your friend. You’ve made an attachment.”
The offering reflects a growing category of AI-driven tools designed to replicate aspects of spiritual counseling and companionship. These applications now include a range of avatars modeled after religious figures across traditions, from Christian-themed bots to digital representations of Eastern religious leaders, alongside faith-oriented alternatives to mainstream chatbot platforms.
As these tools gain traction, developers and observers are raising questions about their appropriate use and limitations. Software engineer Cameron Pak, who has focused on evaluating digital tools for Christian audiences, outlined criteria for such systems, emphasizing transparency and doctrinal boundaries. He maintains that AI programs should clearly disclose their artificial nature and avoid generating inaccurate religious content. Pak also stated that machines cannot fulfill spiritual roles such as prayer. “AI cannot pray for you, because the AI is not alive,” he said.
Pak created a platform, faith.tools, to highlight applications he believes adhere to those principles, including services that assist with sermon translation and behavioral guidance. While noting the potential utility of AI, he cautioned about its risks. “AI, especially if you give it all the tools that it needs, it can be so helpful. But it also can be so dangerous,” he said.
Researchers examining the intersection of religion and artificial intelligence say the expansion of these systems is prompting broader ethical and theological discussions. Beth Singler, an anthropologist at the University of Zurich, said some AI models have already been modified or removed due to concerns over misinformation and data privacy. She also pointed to religious considerations, noting that certain traditions may view human-like AI representations as problematic. In Islam, she said, prohibitions on depicting humanoid forms have led to debate over whether such technologies may be considered impermissible.
The introduction of monetized, interactive religious AI platforms comes as digital tools increasingly extend into areas traditionally shaped by personal belief and institutional authority. As adoption grows, questions remain about how these systems may influence individual faith practices and the boundaries between technology and spiritual life.
Read more at the New York Post here.
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