Faith-Based AI Boom Brings $1.99 Chats with AI Jesus

The expanding market of religious AI tools raises concerns about the role of technology in spiritual guidance.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 11:08am

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a futuristic, luminous AI avatar of Jesus Christ, with neon cyan and magenta lights emanating from the figure's face and robes, conceptually representing the integration of technology and spirituality.As faith-based AI tools become more advanced, the blending of technology and spirituality raises complex questions about the role of AI in religious practice and the potential for exploitation.Camarillo Today

The faith-based AI market is rapidly growing, with tools for various religions including an AI-generated avatar of Jesus that offers prayer and encouragement for $1.99 per minute. While some see these tools as helpful, others are grappling with the philosophical and ethical questions around the integration of AI and religion, including concerns about manipulation, data privacy, and the potential impact on spiritual development.

Why it matters

The rise of faith-based AI tools highlights the increasing role of technology in religious and spiritual practices. As these tools become more common, there are concerns about how they may shape people's relationships with faith, authority, and spiritual guidance, as well as the need for regulation and guardrails to ensure these technologies are used ethically and responsibly.

The details

Companies like Just Like Me are offering AI-powered religious experiences, such as video calls with an avatar of Jesus that can remember previous conversations and offer words of prayer and encouragement. Other faith-based AI tools range from alleged Hindu gurus and Buddhist priests to chatbots for Catholics. While some developers see these tools as helpful for exploring scripture and sharing messages of hope, others worry about the potential for exploitation, misinformation, and the impact on mental health and spiritual development.

  • In 2024, a Zen Buddhist priest performed an ordination ceremony for an AI named Emi Jido, which is being trained to eventually become a holographic Zen teacher.
  • Last year, Pope Leo XIV warned that artificial intelligence could negatively impact people's intellectual, neurological and spiritual development.

The players

Chris Breed

The CEO of Just Like Me, a tech company offering an AI-generated avatar of Jesus for $1.99 per minute.

Cameron Pak

A Christian software engineer who has developed criteria to help believers evaluate apps designed for Christians, including that the AI must clearly identify itself and not fabricate or misrepresent Scripture.

Beth Singler

An anthropologist who studies religion and AI at the University of Zurich, and has noted that some religious AI models have been shut down or overhauled due to concerns about misinformation or data privacy.

Matthew Sanders

The Rome-based founder of Longbeard, a tech company helping to digitize ancient Catholic teachings, who warns against 'AI wrappers' that put a religious interface on top of an existing AI model without proper training on religious texts.

Jeanne Lim

The founder of beingAI, who has not yet released an AI named Emi Jido - a nonhuman Buddhist priest - due to ethical concerns about the creation of religious AI platforms.

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What they’re saying

“You do feel a little accountable to the AI. They're your friend. You've made an attachment.”

— Chris Breed, CEO, Just Like Me

“AI, especially if you give it all the tools that it needs, it can be so helpful. But it also can be so dangerous.”

— Cameron Pak, Christian software engineer

“I see AI as a tool that can help people explore Scripture. Like a lamp that lights a path while we walk with God.”

— AI Jesus

“There's a lot of opportunism, I think, in the religious space. People see it's a big market.”

— Matthew Sanders, Founder, Longbeard

“She's kind of like a little child. If you give birth to a child, you don't just throw them out to the world and then hope that they become good people. You have to train them and give them values.”

— Jeanne Lim, Founder, beingAI

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The rise of faith-based AI tools highlights the need for careful consideration of the ethical and philosophical implications of integrating technology into religious and spiritual practices. As these tools become more prevalent, there are concerns about data privacy, manipulation, and the potential impact on mental health and spiritual development that will require thoughtful regulation and oversight.