How AI and VR are changing the Easter experience

Technical innovations are changing our everyday lives. From the discovery of fire to the invention of virtual reality, we can meticulously trace how human coexistence and individual experiences have changed dramatically. The changes brought about by technological developments are never limited to a single area of life – rather, they diffuse across all boundaries and thus influence our existence as a whole. Against this backdrop, it is hardly surprising that traditional festivities are also in a constant state of flux. With Easter just around the corner, the question arises as to how AI and VR are changing the Easter experience in the 21st century. We have compiled a few case studies to illustrate the gradual shifts – because there has been no real transformation so far.

The illustrated Easter story

An experiment by the diocese of Essen from 2023 still seems rather traditional. In order to make its own message understandable and accessible in the 21st century, the diocese decided to have an AI-generated illustration of the Easter story created. In addition to curiosity about the possibilities of the new AI, this is based on the openly communicated desire as a church to consciously adapt its own traditions to the zeitgeist so as not to lose relevance. This is therefore less about an individual and more about an institutional Easter experience that is to be shaped through the use of artificial intelligence. “As Christians, we are called upon to tell our message again and again in a new and contemporary way,” said Ulrich Lota, press spokesman for the Diocese of Essen, commenting on the idea behind the AI Easter story at the time. The role of artificial intelligence in the transformation of the Easter experience is therefore a clearly defined one, at least in this context: it is a tool for presenting oneself to the outside world and shaping one’s own narrative. However, the Easter narrative is by no means abandoned – even if the Jesus on the e-scooter seen in Essen may seem a little strange at first.

Virtual Easter egg hunt

A popular use of virtual reality seems much more secular: Virtual Easter egg hunts have emerged with the pandemic and have remained at least as a bad weather emergency nail. The search in virtual space can take place in two ways. In addition to the fully immersive VR experience, AR apps are also available on the market that can be used to place virtual Easter eggs in real space. However, the functional principle is similar apart from this detailed question: children – equipped with a smartphone and/or VR glasses – are sent on a search for hidden digital Easter eggs. If the VR version is chosen, there are relatively spectacular possibilities here. The youngest generation in particular, who are growing up with ultra-modern and technically sophisticated video games, are more likely to find themselves here than on a foray through a cold Easter allotment. It is interesting to note that the basic principle remains the same despite the shift to the virtual realm – a pattern that can be seen in many technical innovations of the recent past.

AI Easter messages

Have you always wanted to receive a personal Easter greeting from the Pope? AI makes it possible. The latest AI models can be used to create deceptively real videos that allow us to have any person recite any text. What is highly problematic in the political sphere and could contribute to election campaign manipulation, for example, or has already been used as a deepfake in the Ukraine war, can also be used for more harmless purposes – for example, to create personalized Easter messages. In contrast to the two previous examples, the boundaries between fact and fiction are blurred for the first time: the technology not only changes the Easter experience, but also contributes significantly to the fictionalization of our factual world. Moreover, the AI-generated Easter message is not a substitute for an analogue version (a simple video would suffice for this), but produces a materialized dream world. This therefore demonstrates both the potential and the danger of artificial intelligence in a particularly impressive way. In relation to the Easter experience alone, the former point may be overcome – as long as the AI message is also understood as a fun gimmick.

Easter outings planned by the AI

The fourth major innovation appears to be much more useful: AI-planned Easter walks are in vogue. ChatGPT and co. use just a little information to create wonderful excursions that are perfectly suited to the time of year or the occasion. Anyone who specifies their destination region, the Easter theme and perhaps a few likes and dislikes can benefit from cleverly planned excursions – without having to trawl through travel guides or the Internet to find the nearest Easter museum or the most impressive church in the region. Here, the AI acts as a helper, taking on the organizational work – and allowing the actual Easter experience to come to the fore.

Using AI and VR even at Easter

This leaves the question of how we can use AI and VR ourselves to enhance our Easter experience. The four case studies presented here point in a clear direction: if we use the new technologies as little helpers that relieve us of planning work, help bring outdated traditions into the present and are sometimes good for a funny change, we can preserve the basic idea and concept of our Easter celebrations without living anachronistically or burdening ourselves with too much work.