Virtual 'AI Jesus' banned after attracting hundreds of ‘worshippers’ looking for dating advice and gaming tips

IF you've ever dated, you know how hard it can be to find a meaningful relationship using some of the sites and apps currently available.

So when an artificial intelligence chatbot designed to resemble a so-called AI Jesus suddenly surfaced, hundreds of Twitch users flocked to the virtual relationship guru for advice.

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The bot was created by a German tech collective known as The Singularity Group - a nonprofit.

It depicted the bot as a bearded white man with a bright white halo. The bot gestured as it responded to questions.

Creators said it has been “trained after Jesus and the teachings of the Bible.”

The ask_jesus livestream had attracted over 35,000 followers and allowed viewers to ask questions on various topics, including love, life, law - even gaming.

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Twitch, however, took down the channel, though it is unclear why.

The disclaimer on the page said the channel “is currently unavailable due to a violation of Twitch’s Community Guidelines or Terms of Service.”

The site's page said “whether you’re seeking spiritual guidance, looking for a friend, or simply want someone to talk to, you can join on the journey through life and discover the power of faith, hope, and love.”

The U.S. Sun tried posing a relationship question to the bot by entering the following prompt:

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"How do I find a boyfriend in his 40s?"

The response took just seconds and read: "Hi there! Finding a boyfriend in his 40s can be a bit tricky, but there are definitely ways to increase your chances."

It went on: "First, consider attending events or joining clubs that specifically cater to an older demographic. You can also try online dating sites that are designed for those in their 40s."

"Finally, don't be afraid to ask around. Your friends or family may know someone who is in their 40s and might be interested in starting a relationship. Good luck!"

OTHER RELIGION BASED CHATBOTS

This isn't the first religious based AI chatbot developed.

Following the popularity of ChatGPT, which first launched at the end of 2022, a number of religious AI chatbots based on the Bhagavad Gita have emerged in India.

Millions have taken to using them. In January 2023, India-based software engineer Sukuru Sai Vineet launched one called GitaGPT.

According to site Rest of World, the chatbot, is powered by GPT-3 technology and provides answers based on the Bhagavad Gita, a 700-verse Hindu scripture, equivalent to the Hindu version of the Bible.

GitaGPT is said to mimic the Hindu god Krishna, with the search box reading: “What troubles you, my child?”

Vineet told Rest of World the AI bot mimicked Krishna as a therapist “except you’re not actually talking to Krishna. You’re talking to a bot that’s pretending to be him.”

EXPERTS URGE CAUTION USING AI

Multiple experts have cautioned that AI systems playing god can have dangerous and unintended consequences.

One expert, Diego Senior told The U.S. Sun that in the wrong hands generative AI can be "catastrophic."

The sentiment has been echoed by more than 350 industry leaders and artificial development experts, who recently released a statement that read:

"Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war."

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Leaders signing the one line open statement included, Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI, the company behind Chat-GPT and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Here's more on dire warnings issued by experts on the possibility that AI could outsmart humans.