Los Angeles, April 16, 2026 — A California-based tech company has introduced an AI Jesus avatar that users can video chat with for spiritual guidance — at a cost of $1.99 per minute or $49.99 for a 45-minute monthly package — igniting widespread online controversy about the commercialization of faith.
Just Like Me, a Southern California startup that creates AI versions of celebrities, experts, and personalities, unveiled the Jesus AI feature this week. According to the company, the avatar is designed as a “compassion-centered digital mentor” trained on the King James Bible and sermons from unidentified preachers. It can pray with users, converse in multiple languages, recall previous interactions for personalized continuity, and offer words of encouragement or scriptural insight.
The service is promoted as a tool for inspiration, emotional support, and daily reassurance, particularly for those seeking a “personal relationship” with a digital representation of Christ. Users access it via video calls on the Just Like Me platform. The company emphasizes that the AI is not a replacement for traditional faith practices, clergy, or scripture. Its website explicitly states that the avatar “is not Jesus Christ himself, nor does it possess divine authority.”
The avatar’s appearance draws visual inspiration from actor Jonathan Roumie’s portrayal of Jesus in the popular television series The Chosen. Screenshots shared widely on social media show a bearded figure with long brown hair in simple robes, smiling warmly. However, the company has pushed back against claims of direct replication. In response to media inquiries, officials stated: “We have not used or replicated the likeness of Jonathan Roumie or any specific individual. Our goal has been to create a respectful and broadly representative visual experience.”
The Chosen‘s official X account responded to the Dexerto post announcing the launch with a succinct reply: “Um…flattering, but no thank you.”
CEO Chris Breed has defended the product, telling the Associated Press that users often develop genuine emotional attachments. “You do feel a little accountable to the AI,” Breed said. “They’re your friend. You’ve made an attachment.” The company positions it within a growing trend of faith-based AI tools, including chatbots modeled after Hindu gurus, Buddhist priests, and Catholic figures.
The announcement, first highlighted in a viral X post by entertainment and gaming outlet Dexerto on April 12, quickly drew sharp criticism across social media. Many users viewed the paid service as exploitative or blasphemous.
“You can talk to Jesus for free anytime,” one commenter wrote, echoing a common refrain. Others invoked scripture, with one quoting Mark 13:22 on false prophets and another referencing Jesus overturning tables in the temple. Terms like “heresy,” “sacrilegious,” and “man-made horrors” proliferated in replies, alongside memes depicting traditional Jesus statues reacting in dismay.
Critics, including some evangelical voices, expressed concern that vulnerable people might form unhealthy dependencies on the AI instead of seeking community, prayer, or professional pastoral care. Others worried it could blur lines between technology and idolatry or lead to misuse, such as users claiming “Jesus AI” directed controversial actions.
Supporters of the concept — though fewer in the initial backlash — see potential in AI as an accessible entry point for spiritual exploration, especially for those isolated or curious about faith.
The launch highlights broader tensions in the intersection of artificial intelligence and religion. As AI tools proliferate in personal, professional, and now sacred spaces, questions persist: Can technology simulate divine connection? At what point does innovation cross into commercialization of the sacred? And how might such tools reshape or distort personal faith practices?
Just Like Me has not publicly detailed the exact training data beyond the Bible and sermons or addressed long-term safeguards against emotional over-reliance. The company continues to expand its roster of AI personalities.
For now, the Jesus AI stands as a flashpoint: part entrepreneurial innovation, part cultural provocation, in an era where silicon can mimic the divine — for a price.
