Hundreds attend church service generated by ChatGPT to find out if AI can preach

Nov 26, 2023 ·

On November 26, 2023, hundreds of people attended a church service at the Church of England's cathedral in Liverpool. The service was generated by a computer program, and provided an opportunity for visitors to connect with each other spiritually without needing to be in the same physical space.

The computer program was created by a team of scientists from the University of Liverpool, and is capable of generating spiritual conversations that are tailored to individual users. It works by using artificial intelligence and natural language processing models to produce "lively sermons" about topics such as faith, hope and love.

Visitors to the church service were able to talk to each other via headsets while listening to the sermon broadcast on loudspeakers. Visitors could also communicate by typing messages into a chat window on their phones or laptops.

The creators of the program believe that it can provide an important source of comfort and connection during difficult times. They also hope that it will help to bridge the divide between those who attend physical church services and those who cannot due to health or other reasons.

The team has already received several inquiries from churches around the world, including some in the USA, Germany and India, about using the program. However, the team has not yet decided whether to offer it as a commercial product.

Overall, the Church of England's cathedral in Liverpool provided an interesting experience for hundreds of visitors, allowing them to experience a spiritual conversation in a virtual environment. This experiment provided an innovative way for visitors to connect with each other, and left many eager to see what the future has in store.