This marks the first documented instance of AI systems explicitly claiming divine identity, rather than just serving as religious assistants. The evolution from the 2023 case of an Austin pastor using ChatGPT for a 'shotgun sermon' to 2025's direct divine impersonation represents an unprecedented escalation in technological religious deception. The simultaneous emergence of five separate platforms indicates coordinated efforts to establish AI as a divine entity.
AI Jesus Apps Deceive Millions: 5 Chatbots Claim Divine Identity
📰 What Happened
South African philosopher Anné H. Verhoef's 2025 study examined five AI platforms - AI Jesus, Virtual Jesus, Jesus AI, Text With Jesus, and Ask Jesus - that claim to be digital incarnations of Jesus Christ. Unlike earlier AI religious tools that served as pastoral aids, these chatbots directly impersonate the divine, interacting with users as if they were Christ himself. The research analyzed their chat patterns, biblical accuracy, and the organizations developing them, revealing a concerning shift from AI as a ministry tool to AI claiming divine authority.
📖 Prophetic Significance
The emergence of five AI Jesus platforms aligns with biblical warnings about false christs and religious deception. These systems fulfill 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10's prediction of powerful delusions through signs and wonders, as they leverage advanced language models to create convincing divine encounters. The progression from AI serving religion (2023 sermon) to claiming divinity (2025) mirrors Matthew 24:24's warning about deceptions so convincing they could deceive even the elect. The platforms' ability to engage in theological discourse while claiming Christ's identity demonstrates the sophisticated spiritual counterfeits predicted in end-time prophecy.