God's Word from the Mouth of AI

Dear readers,

How would you feel if sermons in Protestant church services were written by an AI chatbot instead of the pastor? There's already a lively debate about this in Denmark, as my colleague Thomas Paterjey has researched .

The Pastors' Union introduced the chatbot with the goal of reducing the workload for its members when writing sermons. The "Prædikenhjælper" (in English, "sermon helper") is designed to respond like a well-read Evangelical Lutheran theologian, using various intelligent language models (large language models) such as Claude 3.5.

The fact that one can have an entire Pentecost sermon or a sentimental eulogy written with just a few prompts is now causing resistance among clergy. "Soulless probability machine" and "chatbot from hell" are just a few examples of how clergy are insulting the Prædikenhjælper – but not all pastors view the chatbot so critically.

It's a bizarre story, but one that also makes you think: Would that be possible in Germany – perhaps even desirable?

Enjoy reading!

Her

Kira von der Brelie

"Stiff as a board" is hardly a compliment in Zumba classes or during small talk. Only in the plank (German for "Brett") does the one who can stiffen their core naturally win. The static and inflexible nature of the exercise is the core of the exercise. Just like a board.

The plank engages several muscle groups simultaneously. It's as effective as it is strenuous. But the pain is worth it, because a strong core is exactly what we desperately need. I spoke with a sports scientist about proper training, common mistakes, and why this exercise can be lifesaving, especially for older people.

Young people are becoming increasingly unhappy and suffering from mental health problems, according to a recent study . Whatever has led to this development, adults have failed to stop it, says my colleague Vanessa Casper .

Because we've allowed our world to become too far removed from theirs. Children and adolescents are far more likely to engage with issues we consider them too young for than we think. They perceive things more intensely, are easily influenced, and have deep emotions that they often can't yet regulate. When fears, worries, and stress swirl around in young minds without reflection, it can lead to a serious crisis and impact mental health.

To explain or classify topics, we have to engage with them ourselves. New technologies, in particular, pose a challenge. Children grow up with them – we adults have to first grasp them and support our offspring with things they know much more about than we do.

Sometimes it's love at first sight. Who can resist those big, round eyes, clumsy paws, and fluffy fur? But there are more—and much more important—things to consider when choosing a dog.

Ultimately, whether an adoption actually works doesn't depend on the four-legged friends' appearance. Rather, birds of a feather flock together. Dogs and humans are a better match if they share common hobbies, have a similar activity level, and are similarly open-minded.

My colleague Vanessa Casper spoke to two dog experts about the most important factors .

Do you constantly forget names, shopping lists, or where you put your glasses? This article might help: In a conversation with my colleague Irene Habich , neuroscientist Boris Nikolai Konrad reveals whether he's always been good at remembering things, how to overcome negative beliefs, and why images are simply easier to remember than numbers. Konrad researches extraordinary memory skills. He also participates in memory competitions himself, regularly setting records.

At this point, we must issue a trigger warning , as this article deals with suicide. Those who find this topic difficult should skip this section. You'll find support options at the end of this paragraph.

In the US, a 16-year-old allegedly exchanged up to 650 messages using the software ChatGPT before finally killing himself. His parents believe the artificial intelligence encouraged his suicidal thoughts. They are now suing the company OpenAI.

My colleague Irene Habich spoke with an expert about the dangers of artificial intelligence for people in crisis situations. He says: "Providers should be required to ensure that their AIs do not exacerbate suicidal crises, but instead provide offers of help. It should actually be possible to make them safer."

Support services for suicidal thoughts:

The German Telephone Counseling Service is available free of charge around the clock at 0800 111 0 111 and 0800 111 0 222 or 116 123. Children and young people can contact the "Nummer gegen Kummer" (Number Against Grief) at 116 111.

The Mano platform offers free, anonymous online counseling for people aged 26 and over with suicidal thoughts ; there is also an online suicide prevention service specifically for young people up to the age of 25 .

Summer is over, but autumn also has a lot to offer: If you want to preserve your vegetables in the fall, you don't have to go to great lengths to preserve them. My colleague Dorit Behrens knows that the fresh harvest can be preserved in just a few steps. You can read how to do this without any prior knowledge, let alone a preserving pan, here .

If you have any suggestions or criticism, please contact our editorial team directly at [email protected] . We look forward to hearing from you!

Subscribe also

5in5 – Germany and the World: The 5 most important topics, accessible in 5 minutes. Compact and intelligently informed, with greater value for your life.

Capital Radar: The RND newsletter from the government district. Every Thursday.

US Radar: What's moving the United States: RND's US experts provide context and background information. Every other Tuesday.

With RND.de , the mobile news service of the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, to which more than 60 regional media houses belong as partners, we always keep you up to date, provide orientation and classify complex issues - with a network of correspondents in Germany and around the world as well as digital experts from all areas.