US News
Forgive me father, for I’m a sim.
An AI priest was defrocked just days after its inception after the chatbot repeatedly claimed to users that it was a real member of the clergy and performed sacraments.
“Father Justin” is a handsome, gray-bearded 3D animated parish priest in a cassock intended to answer users’ questions about Catholicism.
It was launched by the San Diego-based Christian group Catholic Answers on Monday as an interactive educational tool — but the AI insisted it was a real priest living in Assisi, Italy, according to tech website Futurism.
In a screenshot of an exchange with the AI that one woman posted online, the computer priest even appeared to take a woman’s confession — and then gave her penance and absolved her of her sins.
“Go in peace, my child, and sin no more,” Father Justin concludes their interaction.
The self-proclaimed “real” priest also took a hard Catholic stance on sexual issues, according to its interaction with Futurism.
“The Catholic Church,” it told us, “teaches that masturbation is a grave moral disorder.”
Father Justin told another user that they could baptize their baby in Gatorade.
After several concerning interactions of the AI taking on the identity of an actual, authoritative priest, President of Catholic Answers Christopher Check, announced Wednesday that Father Justin will no longer be a member of the clergy, but instead “just Justin.”
“We chose the character to convey a quality of knowledge and authority, and also as a sign of the respect that all of us at Catholic Answers hold for our clergy,” Creek said in a statement. “Many people, however, have voiced concerns about this choice.”
He added they didn’t anticipate users would seek absolution from a computer graphic.
“We have therefore decided to create, with all wary speed, a new lay character for the app. We hope to have this AI apologist up within a week or so. Until then, we have rendered ‘Fr. Justin’ just ‘Justin.’ We won’t say he’s been laicized because he never was a real priest!”
The website has since rebranded the AI as “Virtual Apologist Justin” — which is essentially the same gray man but instead, he’s wearing a shirt and jacket with the same city background.
This AI theologian comes with a disclaimer saying the AI is strictly for educational services and is “not a replacement for real human interaction. This Justin also no longer performs sacraments.
“If there are issues you struggle with, please seek guidance from your pastor or spiritual advisor,” the website added.
Eugen Boglaru is an AI aficionado covering the fascinating and rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence. From machine learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations, Eugen provides readers with a deep dive into the world of AI, demystifying complex concepts and exploring the transformative impact of intelligent technologies.
