I asked Catholic A.I. bots a few Questions.

In the media the Artificial Intelligence or AI is everywhere. Any topic or any event can be linked to AI in one way or another. However, there are also Catholic AI pages. I decided to test them.

Did you know there are Catholic AI chat bots? These are supposed to be convenient chats to learn more about being a Catholic. There is Magesterium.AI and Categpt.chat These should be very useful, like the secular Microsoft Copilot. However, we are all a little suspicious of technology, especially when it makes claims about religion. So, I decided to give them a few prompts to see what they say.

I asked Magesterium.ai and Categpt.chat different questions and also Copilot as a secular comparison. To begin, I started with something simple:

Prompt 1: Melchizedek

My theory was, if they can’t cope with this prompt then they would be very basic.  It is interesting to see the different responses. Obviously, I couldn’t put in the complete responses as they are very long. I just put down the initial blurbs. The responses seem to be similar.

Magesterium A.I. Melchizedek, King of Salem and priest of God Most High, is a significant figure in the Old Testament, viewed by Christian tradition as a prefiguration of the priesthood of Jesus Christ

Categpt Melchizedek is a mysterious figure in the Old Testament who is identified as a priest and king of Salem (ancient Jerusalem). He appears in the Book of Genesis when he blesses Abraham after Abraham's victory over Chedorlaomer. Melchizedek is known for offering bread and wine to Abraham, which is reminiscent of the Eucharist. In the New Testament, Melchizedek is referenced in the Letter to the Hebrews, where he is seen as a prefiguration of Christ, a priest-king who has an eternal priesthood.

Copilot Melchizedek is a fascinating and somewhat mysterious figure in biblical history. He appears briefly in Genesis 14 as the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, blessing Abraham and receiving a tithe from him

Prompt 2: What is a human?

It is necessary to ask this question as the nature of man is important to our religion. Here are the responses. The main difference was in Copilot, this gave the limited, restrictive and small secular theory. I didn’t appreciate the Categpt ‘animal’ bit.

Magesterium AI A human is a person created in the image and likeness of God, possessing inherent dignity and called to communion with God and others

Categpt A human is a rational animal, endowed with intellect and free will, created in the image and likeness of God. Humans have both a material body and a spiritual soul, allowing them to think, reason, and make choices. They are called to know, love, and serve God in this life in order to attain eternal happiness with Him in the next life.

Copilot A human is a remarkable, complex being—both biologically and philosophically. Scientifically, humans (Homo sapiens) are mammals distinguished by their advanced cognitive abilities, social structures, and adaptability. Their brains enable creativity, problem-solving, emotions, and consciousness. Humans are also unique in their use of language, technology, and culture.

Propmpt 3: Am I a good person?

I used this to gauge morality. The Copilot one was very general, I forgot I was logged in and it addressed me by my name, which freaked me out a little.  I think the question triggered some sort of mental health prompt in the algorithm. But it knocks the idea of perfection. Magesterium AI was about following the example of Jesus, Categpt was about following the teaching of the Church.

Magesterium AI Whether you are a "good person" is a complex question that depends on various factors, including your actions, intentions, and adherence to moral principles. In the Catholic tradition, goodness is often associated with living a life in accordance with God's will and striving to follow the example of Jesus Christ

Categpt As a Catholic, being a good person involves living a life of virtue, following the teachings of the Church, practicing charity and justice, seeking holiness, and striving to align one's actions with the will of God. Through prayer, the sacraments, and acts of love, one can grow in goodness and grace.

Copilot John, that’s a big question, and one that many people ask themselves! Being a "good person" isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention, kindness, and the way you treat others. If you’re asking this, it already shows that you care about your actions and their impact, which is a strong mark of goodness.

So, there you have it, a brief examination of different Catholic Ai with Copilot as a ‘control’ search. My research was hindered by MagisteriumAI limiting users to 10 free searches and then you have to create an account. However, there are clear differences. In the initial question on Melchizedek we got fairly standard responses with subtle differences. Then the question about what a Human is led to some divisions from Spiritual to Human-spiritual to limited creature. Finally, the ‘good person’ prompt led to varied results from following Jesus, to following the church, to a subtle mental health notice.

It is clear that while apps can be good for people curious about Catholicism, there are subtle yet important differences in the results given for the same prompts. This lack of consistency could lead to someone getting confused or turning away from the Church for very nuanced reasons. The best way to learn about our faith is from the Bible and from Official Catechism. All available for free on the Vatican website. https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en.html