'AI Jesus' reflects growth of AI in spirituality

+ legacy of nuclear weapon cleanup in U.S.; changing Chinatowns US Edition - Today's top story: A chatbot willing to take on questions of all kinds – from the serious to the comical – is the latest representation of Jesus for the AI age [View in browser]( US Edition | 1 August 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Fed’s rate hikes pose risks for developing country economies]( - [‘Barbie’ movie and the contradictions of motherhood]( - [A way to encourage accurate info sharing on social media]( Lead story A chatbot called AI Jesus is answering questions on the interactive livestreaming service Twitch that can range from deeper reflections on spiritual matters to giving advice on life’s more mundane issues. Over the centuries, Jesus has been portrayed in many ways to meet the needs of the times – from a brave white man in 19th-century America to a Black Christ offering hope for justice and equality to the oppressed more recently. His representation in the form of a chatbot is the latest in this long trend. But it may not be the last. As theologian and scholar Joseph L. Kimmel writes, given the millennia-old practice of “refashioning spiritual leaders to meet contemporary needs,” we all may look back at AI Jesus as just one way artificial intelligence spilled into spirituality and religion. [ [Sign up for our weekly Global Economy & Business newsletter, with interesting perspectives from experts around the world](. ] Kalpana Jain Senior Religion + Ethics Editor/ Director of the Global Religion Journalism Initiative On AI Jesus’ Twitch channel, chatbot Jesus answers questions on personal and spiritual matters. Twitch user ask_jesus [A chatbot willing to take on questions of all kinds – from the serious to the comical – is the latest representation of Jesus for the AI age]( Joseph L. Kimmel, Boston College As a chatbot, dressed in a hooded brown-and-white robe, Jesus is available 24/7 to answer any and all questions on his Twitch channel, ‘ask_jesus.’ Environment + Energy - [The nuclear arms race’s legacy at home: Toxic contamination, staggering cleanup costs and a culture of government secrecy]( William J. Kinsella, North Carolina State University Nuclear weapons production and testing contaminated many sites across the US and exposed people unknowingly to radiation and toxic materials. Some have gone uncompensated for decades. Arts + Culture - [From Chinatowns to ethnoburbs and beyond, where Chinese people settle reflects changing wealth levels and political climates]( Wei Li, Arizona State University; Yining Tan, University of Arizona Chinatowns once served as gateways for early Chinese immigrants. But the suburbs are the center of cultural and commercial life for new immigrants and later generations. - [‘Barbie’ is, at its core, a movie about the messy contradictions of motherhood]( Aviva Dove-Viebahn, Arizona State University Being a mom can be heartbreaking, empowering, scary, fulfilling and everything in between. Economy + Business - [Donors give more when asked to help people get back on their feet instead of meeting immediate needs – new research]( Jonathan Hasford, University of Tennessee Emphasizing self-sufficiency in fundraising pitches can increase charitable donations, a marketing scholar has found. - [Rate hikes may have slowed inflation in the US – but they have also heightened the risk of financial crises for lower-income nations]( Cristina Bodea, Michigan State University Almost two-thirds of low-income countries are at risk of debt distress – in part because of higher borrowing costs. And that isn’t the only problem. Ethics + Religion - [Why American culture fixates on the tragic image of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the most famous man behind the atomic bomb]( Charles Thorpe, University of California, San Diego Complex as they are, Oppenheimer’s life and views of the bomb are far easier to wrestle with than the reality of nuclear power itself. Science + Technology - [Social media can in fact be made better: Research shows it is possible to reward users for sharing accurate information instead of misinformation]( Ian Anderson, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; Gizem Ceylan, Yale University; Wendy Wood, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Fighting misinformation doesn’t have to involve restricting content or dampening people’s enthusiasm for sharing it. The key is turning bad habits into good ones. Politics + Society - [Trump facing multiple criminal charges, investigations: 38 articles explain what you need to know]( Jeff Inglis, The Conversation Scholarly experts explain many aspects and angles of the criminal cases involving former president Donald Trump. Trending on site - [Is it really hotter now than any time in 100,000 years?]( - [Whistleblower calls for government transparency as Congress digs for the truth about UFOs]( - [Niger coup: Military takeover is a setback for democracy and US interests in West Africa]( Today's graphic 📈 [The share of hired crop farm workers who were not legally authorized to work in the United States grew from roughly 14% in 1989–91 to almost 55% in 1999–2001. In recent years it has declined to about 40%. Undocumented workers are especially vulnerable to abuse in the workplace, including sexual violence, because they may fear being deported if they protest.]( From the story, [Sexual violence is a pervasive threat for female farm workers – here’s how the US could reduce their risk]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Spoutible]( • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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