Abstract for Online Program Book (maximum 150 words)
As AI-generated material has continued to increase in quality, speed of production, and integration into daily life, much of the conversation around this material in church has focused on the potential problems of AI as replacement for religious leaders. Though this may be a future concern, the integration of artificial intelligence into church spaces is already underway. During this past Christmas season, a Catholic Church in Durham, North Carolina displayed an AI-generated image of the Nativity scene. In this paper I combine material studies and ethnographic research to understand the significance of such a display for both the generator of the image and the community who encountered it.