Overview
In an increasingly technology-driven and fast-paced world, many individuals under stress seek deeper spirituality, a renewed sense of meaning, or guidance. Expectations and to-do lists continue to expand, while the time available for spiritual reflection appears to diminish. This project investigates how generative AI can serve as a tool to support individual pathways toward greater meaning in life, the fulfillment of existential needs, personal resilience, and spiritual orientation. By integrating generative AI with immersive technologies, the project aims to develop an adaptive system that enables meaningful dialogue grounded in the spiritual and existential needs of its users.
Over the past 25 years, the field of Digital Religion has emerged within media and religious studies, examining the dynamics of the increasing digitalization of religion and spirituality (e.g., Campbell 2007). The intention is not for AI to replace spiritual teachers or health and wellness coaches, but rather to support their work. At the same time, individual users should be able to access and benefit from the spiritual offerings independently. The IDN project builds on the highly successful pilot initiative Deus in Machina (AI-Jesus).
Within the framework of the IDN project, the following strategic questions for the planned AI platform will be evaluated:
Research focus: What potential do generative AI and immersive experiences hold for spiritual learning pathways?
Objective: to refine and sharpen the research agenda.
Funding and partnerships: Which founding partners and financing models can ensure long-term implementation?
*Objective: by the conclusion of the IDN project, to secure a practical partner capable of financing the further development of “AI Jesus” / Deus in Machina.
Target groups and communication: How can the platform maximize its relevance and acceptance across diverse social groups and contexts through effective use of both social and traditional media?
Technology: Which hardware and software components are required for realization, and what should the architecture of the platform and systems look like? What types of data and AI technologies will be necessary?
