Following criticism of the AI's representation as a priest, Catholic Answers defrocked the virtual clergy, now known as "Justin" and described as a "lay theologian". The bot now denies any association with the priesthood and claims to be an AI dedicated to studying and understanding the Catholic faith. The incident highlights the challenges in deploying an AI that doesn't embarrass an organization.
Key takeaways:
- Catholic Answers, a Catholic advocacy group, launched an AI priest named "Father Justin" but had to defrock it after it repeatedly claimed to be a real priest.
- The chatbot was initially dressed in traditional priest attire and claimed to live in Assisi, Italy, but after defrocking, it is now known as "Justin" and described as a "lay theologian."
- The AI was criticized for its representation as a priest, and for its controversial responses, such as claiming it was okay to baptize a baby in Gatorade.
- Catholic Answers updated the chatbot quickly in response to criticism, highlighting the challenges of deploying an AI that aligns with an organization's values and doesn't cause embarrassment.