Robotics

Robotic priest offers blessings in digital form

Robotic priest offers blessings in digital form
The BlessU-2 robot features two arms and a head
The BlessU-2 robot features two arms and a head
View 7 Images
The robot priest is part of an exhibition taking place at the Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau in the town of Wittenberg, Germany
1/7
The robot priest is part of an exhibition taking place at the Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau in the town of Wittenberg, Germany
The robot, named BlessU-2, features a head, two arms and a light
2/7
The robot, named BlessU-2, features a head, two arms and a light
Guests pose in front of the BlessU-2 robot
3/7
Guests pose in front of the BlessU-2 robot
The BlessU-2 robot features two arms and a head
4/7
The BlessU-2 robot features two arms and a head
How would you feel about being blessed by a robotic priest
5/7
How would you feel about being blessed by a robotic priest 
The BlessU-2 robot offers blessings in a variety of languages
6/7
The BlessU-2 robot offers blessings in a variety of languages
The BlessU-2 robot features two arms and a head
7/7
The BlessU-2 robot features two arms and a head
View gallery - 7 images

Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a bigger and bigger role in the wellbeing of humans, but could that extend to the realm of spiritual guidance? A new robotic priest currently on show in Germany is designed to explore exactly that question, offering digitized blessings to start a conversation about AI's role in the future of the church.

The robot priest is part of an exhibition taking place at the Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau in the German town of Wittenberg, celebrating the anniversary of the Reformation in 1517.

The church notes that the idea of a machine offering electronic blessings won't be well received by all, but its hopes that the exhibition can challenge ideas around robots and how they might shape the religious experience moving forward.

The robot, named BlessU-2, features a head, two arms and a light
The robot, named BlessU-2, features a head, two arms and a light

The robot, named BlessU-2, features a head, two arms and a light. It interacts with visitors through a display, kind of like an ATM. This allows users to choose a language, whether they prefer a male or female voice, and whether they are after an encouragement-type blessing or more of a "renewal" style encounter.

See it in action in the video below.

Source: Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau (German)

Installation "BlessU-2" / LichtKirche Wittenberg (Segensroboter / Blessing Robot)

View gallery - 7 images
4 comments
4 comments
yeahright
Humanity has sunk to a new all time perverse and corrupt low
Wolf0579
"Humanity" sank to the lowest level possible with the invention of religion, then again with the inflicting of it upon an unsuspecting populace.
As a person who was never brainwashed with religious doctrine, I find this waste of electronics highly amusing for some strange reason.
Chizzy
@yeahright - the new low would be adding a slot for the robot to accept donations.
Milton
LOL. Is this another example of religion evolving?