Tianhou Temple, an important spiritual site located in the southern Malaysian state of Johor, has just announced a unique initiative that combines traditional beliefs and cutting-edge technology by launching the “AI Mazu statue” – an interactive digital version of the Goddess Mazu. The event has not only attracted the attention of the local community but also resonated in the international media, marking a new step in the way religious icons reach and interact with believers in the digital age.
The image of Mother Goddess Mazu is vividly recreated on a large screen placed in the temple. "AI Mazu" not only attracts with its appearance but also makes a strong impression with its natural and friendly communication ability. With a gentle voice, this artificial intelligence can chat and answer a variety of questions from people, from daily questions such as how to get lucky, the secret to a good night's sleep, to explaining the meaning of lucky cards, bringing a new spiritual interactive experience.
Thean Hou Temple in Johor state launches an artificial intelligence-based statue of the Holy Mother that can communicate and answer questions from visitors.
In a widely publicized video, "AI Mazu" demonstrated its personalized interaction by calling a woman who came to pray "my daughter" and kindly advising her to drink some warm water before going to bed so that she could easily fall into a deep sleep. These kind and intimate advices left a deep impression, showing "AI Mazu's" devotion and understanding of people's worries and wishes.
Locals and visitors to the Thien Hau Temple can now approach and "ask for advice" from this AI deity as part of the traditional ritual, but in a more modern and convenient form. They can express their concerns, ask for blessings, or ask for interpretation of omens through divination, all of which are listened to and responded to by "AI Mazu" with great care. Representatives of the Thien Hau Temple proudly assert that this is the world's first digital version of the goddess "AI Mazu", a unique combination of traditional culture and advanced technology.
According to the video released by Thien Hau temple, the AI Ma To statue appears on the screen with the image of a young woman wearing traditional Chinese clothing, her face is described as similar to actress Liu Yifei.
The birth of "AI Mazu" comes just before the 1,065th anniversary of the birth of the Holy Mother Mazu, a historical and spiritual figure with profound influence in the Chinese community around the world. According to legend, Mazu, whose real name is Lin Mo, was born in 960 on Meizhou Island in Putian City, Fujian Province, southeast China. She was known for her brave actions in rescuing people in distress at sea. After her death in a rescue attempt, she was revered and worshipped by the people as an all-powerful guardian deity of seafarers and fishermen.
The Mazu belief has spread and become an important part of the spiritual life of Chinese communities all over the world, especially in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, where there are large ethnic Chinese people living and working. The respect for Mazu is so deep that in some police stations in Fujian province, people have set up mediation rooms named after Mazu, with the belief that no one dares to lie in front of her sacred presence. Even in Meizhou Island, which is considered Mazu's hometown, her statue is given an identity card and a phone number to facilitate traveling to different locations to perform rituals and prayers.
Visitors can ask for blessings, have fortune-telling done, and seek her advice on personal concerns.
The "AI Mazu" project is an innovative product of Aimazin, a technology company based in Malaysia, specializing in creating virtual images using artificial intelligence. The application of AI technology to recreate a traditional religious figure like Mazu shows openness and innovation in approaching and preserving cultural values.
Temple representatives said this is the world's first artificial intelligence statue of the Holy Mother Ma To.
The idea of “digitizing” deities has caused mixed opinions. On the one hand, many believe that these “AI idols” can be an effective bridge to attract young people closer to traditional beliefs, taking advantage of the familiarity and appeal of technology to convey long-standing cultural values. On the other hand, there are also concerns that “modernizing” deity images can reduce the inherent sacredness and solemnity of religious rituals.
However, the initial response from the community has been quite positive. Many people have left comments praying and expressing their excitement at the opportunity to “chat” and receive advice from “AI Mazu”. This shows the potential of technology to create new connections between spirituality and modern life, as long as it is applied respectfully and appropriately. The launch of “AI Mazu” at the Thien Hau Temple in Johor, Malaysia, is not only a story of technology and faith, but also a good example of how traditional values can be preserved and developed in an ever-changing world.
