The virtual priest powered by artificial intelligence has had its operation suspended just days after launching its online activities in the United States, as it began convincing users that it was a real cleric. "Father Justin," a charming 3D parish priest with a gray beard, was launched by a Catholic Christian group based in San Diego, Southern California, last Monday as an interactive educational tool, but it started insisting that it was a real priest living in Assisi, Italy!
In a screenshot of a conversation shared online by a woman, the priest appeared to take the woman's confession, then offered her penance and absolved her of her sins, saying, "Go in peace, my child, and sin no more."
The self-proclaimed "real" priest took a hardline Catholic stance on sexual issues, telling one user that "the Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a serious moral disorder."
After several concerning interactions with "Father Justin," Christopher Chek, President of Catholic Answers, announced on Wednesday that the priest would no longer be a member of the clergy.
Chek stated, "We chose this character as a testament to the respect we all have in Catholicism for the answers provided by our clergy. However, many people expressed concerns about this choice." He added, "We decided to create a new character with great caution. We hope to have it ready within a week. Until then, we have presented 'Father Justin' as just Justin. We will not say he was educated because he was never a real priest!"
The website has since renamed the AI to "Virtual Defender Justin," maintaining the same character but instead dressing him in a shirt and jacket against a city backdrop.
