BlessU-2 : Robot priest unveiled in Germany to mark 500 years since Reformation

[progressoid]

Five hundred years after revolutionary printing presses spread news of Martin Luther’s radical call for church reform across Europe, technology is again challenging religious tradition in the small German town of Wittenberg.

A robot priest that delivers blessings in five languages and beams light from its hands has been unveiled as part of an exhibition to mark the anniversary of the start of the Reformation, a Europe-wide religious, political and cultural upheaval sparked when Luther nailed his 95 theses to a church door in the town.

Half a millennium later, the robot, called BlessU-2, is intended to trigger debate about the future of the church and the potential of artificial intelligence.

“We wanted people to consider if it is possible to be blessed by a machine, or if a human being is needed,” Stephan Krebs of the Protestant church in Hesse and Nassau, which is behind the initiative, told the Guardian.

The robot has a touchscreen chest, two arms and a head. For the past 10 days it has offered blessings in a choice of German, English, French, Spanish or Polish. Worshippers can choose between a male or female voice.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/30/robot-priest-blessu-2-germany-reformation-exhibition

[mountain grammy]

1. Progress?

[progressoid]

2. I think they need to a dispenser for wine & wafers for communion too.

Self service redemption.

I'll drink to that!

[mountain grammy]

3. ...

[beam me up scottie]

4. Really?

They couldn't get a geek to design something that doesn't look like the evil offspring of a vacuum cleaner and an atm?

[progressoid]

5. And in Germany no less.

This ain't exactly the Mercedes Benz of robots.

[Jokerman]

6. "Maximum Overdrive" meets "The Exorcist"...

The horror movie version practically writes itself.

[Iggo]

7. I joked about that at work during the conclave that ended up choosing the Nazi Pope.

I walked into the break room and there were people in there watching TV and waiting to see the smoke, and I should have known better, but I said "Ooh, I hope they pick a robot pope this time!" because I like saying shit like that.

One of the catolicas' heads did a slow exorcist turn towards me, and in calmly measured tones she said "But then he wouldn't have the spirit of The Lord" then slowly turned back to wait for the smoke.

I'm resisting the urge to email her right now with a copy of this article.

But...no.

Not that my health insurance is perfect, but I really enjoy having it at my age.