Apocalyptic AI: Religion and the Promise of Artificial Intelligence (original) (raw)
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Popular Appeal of Apocalyptic AI
The belief that computers will soon become transcendently intelligent and that human beings will “upload” their minds into machines has become ubiquitous in public discussions of robotics and artificial intelligence in western cultures. Such beliefs are the result of pervasive Judeo-Christian apocalyptic beliefs and they have rapidly spread through modern pop and technological culture, including such varied and influential sources as Rolling Stone, the IEEE Spectrum and official U.S. government reports. They have even gained sufficient credibility to enable the construction of Singularity University in California. While different approaches are possible (and, indeed, are common in Japan and possibly elsewhere), this particular vision of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics has gained ground in the West, through the influence of figures such as Hans Moravec and, especially, Ray Kurzweil. Because pop science books help frame public discussion of new sciences and technologies (for individuals, corporations, and governments alike), the integration of religious and technoscientific claims made by their authors should be clear and open for public and scientific debate. As we move forward into an increasingly robotic future, we should do so aware of the ways in which a group’s religious environment can help set the tone for public acceptance and use of robotic technologies.
In science-fiction literature and film, human beings simultaneously feel fear and allure in the presence of intelligent ma- chines, an experience that approximates the numinous experience as described in 1917 by Rudolph Otto. Otto believed that two chief elements characterize the numinous experience: the mysterium tremen- dum and the fascinans. Briefly, the mysterium tremendum is the fear of God’s wholly other nature and the fascinans is the allure of God’s saving grace. Science-fiction representations of robots and artificially intelligent computers follow this logic of threatening otherness and soteriological promise. Science fiction offers empirical support for Anne Foerst’s claim that human beings experience fear and fascina- tion in the presence of advanced robots from the Massachusetts In- stitute of Technology AI Lab. The human reaction to intelligent machines shows that human beings in many respects have elevated those machines to divine status. This machine apotheosis, an inter- esting cultural event for the history of religions, may—despite Foerst’s rosy interpretation—threaten traditional Christian theologies.
THE POSTHUMAN DIVINE: WHEN ROBOTS CAN BE ENLIGHTENED
Sophia: Studies in Cross-cultural Philosophy of Traditions and Cultures: Vol. 58, N. 4, January, 2020
This article aims to reflect upon future evolutions of religions and their related narratives and imaginaries from a critical and generative understanding of our ancient sources. Bodies are locations of creative power and symbolic proliferation. Cyborgian, transhuman, and posthuman embodiments are going to generate visions of the divine in tune with such an epistemic shift, by addressing questions such as: can God be represented as a cyborg? Could robots and avatars be prophets? Is internet a suitable setting for a posthuman theophany? This article articulates within the frame of a relational ontological perspective, according to which the notion of the divine evolves, as much as human and non-human persons do. In this evolutionary scenario, the representation of the divine realm may shift from era to era, adapting to new natural-cultural formations. This special issue argues that the posthuman paradigm shift will be followed by a symbolic turn in religious imaginaries as well.
Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science, 2024
The proliferation of generative AI in the past two years raises complicated ethical and philosophical questions about the nature of AI systems, their potential, and the challenges and opportunities they bring about. The religious sphere is not immune from such concerns. In fact, it may be the arena where the status and role of AI unfolds in some of the most interesting ways. In June 2022, months before the public release of ChatGPT and the ensuing generative AI revolution, a Google engineer started claiming that an AI program he was internally testing had become self-aware. His assessment was largely driven by his own religious beliefs and the AI’s predilection to discuss existential topics. It was an early demonstration of how the intersection between religion and AI would come to play an increasingly prominent role in public debates over the nature and ethical use of these technologies. If AI is to become ubiquitous, how will it be integrated into religious practices? If AI chatbots started to generate religious discourse and even claim to have developed religious interests and beliefs, how could we evaluate the authenticity of such outputs? Is it possible, at least theoretically, for artificial systems to develop anything close to what in humans we call religion? To explore these questions raised by the nascent generative AI technology, I convened an interdisciplinary workshop in Amsterdam in December 2022, supported by CLUE+, the interfaculty research institute at the Vrije Universiteit. Some of the articles in this special section, which I guest-edited, emerged out of that workshop, while a few others were subsequently added. The fundamental question explored in all of them, from multiple disciplinary angles, is whether AI could play a significant role in religious life, either as a tool in human religiosity or as an authentic religious subject itself. Philosopher Pim Haselager highlights how comparing human cognition with AI can significantly inform humanity’s journey of self-understanding, somewhat similar to the comparisons with animals and angels in medieval theological anthropology. He contrasts the smartness and cognitive abilities of AI with its complete lack of understanding and sentience, which he regards as sine qua non conditions of authentic religiosity. In another article, psychologist Fraser Watts and the late AI pioneer Yorick Wilks explore the feasibility and acceptability of AI-powered spiritual companions. Based on empirical research conducted with both GPT chatbots and Wizard-of-Oz methodology (humans masquerading as AIs), the article tentatively concludes that although artificial spiritual companions might proliferate, especially those that facilitate self-exploration, there are still dimensions of human spiritual counselling that might resist automation for the foreseeable future. Theologian Max Tretter intersects robotics, pop-culture and Christian eschatology to ask an intriguing question: is there an afterlife for robots and, if so, what might it be like? If there is hope for all creation to undergo eschatological completion, he argues, then the tentative answer to such a question could only be affirmative, opening up a discussion about the diverse conceptions of afterlife that can be imagined for robots. Computer scientist William Clocksin wrestles head-on with the question of whether intelligent robots could become religious. Following up on his 2023 article in this same journal, he makes a compelling case that future androids would likely develop a form of non-human personhood through sustained engagement in social relationships. If androids start questioning their place in the world and relationships with others, they might use religion in doing so, just like humans do, especially if they come to acknowledge their interdependence with others – human, robotic, or divine. Religious scholar Robert Geraci highlights the critical role religious beliefs and practices might play in recognizing artificial general intelligence, should it ever emerge. Reviewing the historical intersection between religion and robotics, the article critiques the colonial frameworks at work in evaluating “otherness” – of both humans and robots. It also reflects upon the need for an inclusive approach to integrating intelligent robots into our societies by acknowledging their potential for religious experience and participation. Theologian Daekyung Jung reaches a similar conclusion in his article, arguing from the perspective of embodied cognition. Future AI systems, particularly those integrated with soft robotics and driven by homeostasis as a fundamental goal, might exhibit religious behaviors if they develop human-level intelligence and self-awareness. Such religious behaviors would serve the AIs as cognitive mechanisms helpful in navigating existential challenges and the need to transcend finitude. In contrast with Clocksin, Geraci and Jung, in my own article I conclude that authentic religiosity is an unlikely development in robots, despite the theological openness to such scenarios. I argue that religion’s deeply embodied, social, and phenomenological underpinnings in humans may not be replicable in AI systems due to their fundamentally different bodies, cognitive architectures and needs.
The development of artificial intelligence technology is, on the one hand, the fulfillment of God's task given to humanity (Genesis 1 and 2), and on the other hand, in humans' desire to be like God, it is a rebellion against God (Genesis 3:5). Therefore, Christians face numerous challenges in their relationship with artificial intelligence systems. These challenges can be categorized into two fundamental groups. The first group includes challenges where Christians have and will have the choice of responsible use of AI systems, while the second group consists of AI systems controlled by powerful corporations or by AI systems themselves. The text provides a brief introduction and overview of the levels of artificial intelligence development (ANI, AGI, and ASI) and the relationship of Christians towards them. The central part of the discussion is dedicated to the spiritual evaluation of AI systems and tools, especially those that have spiritual consequences in their application. The process of comprehensive spiritual evaluation must be rooted in the Word of God and guided by the Holy Spirit, and the quality of the spiritual evaluation of AI systems for Christians will come as a result of their daily relationship with God. Regarding artificial intelligence, the most important task of the church today and tomorrow is to train and educate believers in AI literacy and biblical-spiritual literacy so that they can independently and effectively make decisions in all situations involving the use of AI systems, machines, and applications. The final section of this article brings an evaluation of the development and application of AI concerning goals that oppose God, such as creating eternal life and god-like machines.
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Religion: Reconciling a New Relationship with God
Political Science - United Nations & Global Policy Studies, 2019
Abstract One day, within the foreseeable future, there will be a synergy between human beings and machines. In other words, humans and machines will evolve to co-exist, assisting the other to make better decisions. No longer will there be the fear that artificial intelligence (AI) will become so powerful that it will destroy and replace humanity. AI engineers and scientists will build intuitive qualities into AI, and they will implement and train machines to have introspection, including showing compassion and empathy for all creatures on Earth. The machines of the future will be engineered to be benevolent, so long as they are kept out of the hands of those who intend to kill and spread discontent. The bigger question is whether God will survive the advancement of science. Certainly, AI will shape and challenge religious beliefs as we know them, transforming how humans turn to God and ancient scriptures to answer questions posed through the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, the Qur’an, and other sacred texts. There is a high probability that humanity will no longer look to these sources for what they seek. Instead, humans will ask these questions through the lens of science, forever reconciling a new and improved relationship with God.
Easter Thoughts on Artificial Intelligence: A Christian Approach
A technique based on today's results of science is becoming dominant in almost all fields under the name Artificial Intelligence (AI). At Easter, some Christian-minded people gathered to discuss the impact, advantages, and dangers of Artificial Intelligence. The debate centered around the preservation or reinterpretation of the dogma of creation. If the dogma is valid-God is the only creator-then the creation of Artificial Intelligence cannot dominate man-there is no danger. But man is creative and has always 'created' things throughout his history that have no example in God's creations. Rather able to create such machine that may rule over the man? The danger does not lie in this, but in the bad intention, which is also human. What possibilities do we have for recognition and protection? This study deals with the relationship between Humans and AI from a scientific, rather than a technical, aspect.
Being Human in a Technological Age: Rethinking Theological Anthropology, 2020
Unprecedented developments in artificial intelligence (AI) characterize our time. This chapter aims to bring the futuristic expectations of the post- and transhuman world into dialogue with Christian eschatology and anthropology. The choice of a positive-critical interaction between Christian theology and the techno-futurism of Moravec and Kurzweil is obvious, given the fact that AI already has various fields of development. After a brief presentation of both authors, we will examine to what extent their expectations concerning AI and post- and transhumanism are interpreted and guided by philosophical-theological aspects. Consideration will also be given to what degree Christian theology can be enriched and challenged by their technological visions. Doing so, this chapter will focus on the themes of (1) imperishability, inertia, and death, (2) on fragmentation and the dualism of the material and immaterial, and (3) on the transformation of human life.
Artificial intelligence and God: new religion for AI
2024
The aim of this paper is to recall and analyze often ignored fact that progress in artificial intelligence (AI) has elicited significant reflection within theological discussions, apart from all other technological and psychological consequences, triggering debates on the interface between technology and spirituality. The intersection of AI and spirituality introduces intricate ethical and philosophical questions that contest traditional views of faith and human-divine relationships. With AI technologies evolving swiftly, both scholars and theologians are scrutinizing the nuanced links between AI and religious thought. The notion of AI surpassing basic computational tasks to engage in profound spiritual interactions necessitates a reassessment of theological constructs. This confluence of technology and spirituality initiates a discussion on the transformative capacity of AI and its ability to redefine human interactions with the divine. Examining the complex relationship between AI and theology unveils possibilities that compel scholars to explore the uncharted territories of technological innovation and spiritual evolution, leading to profound reflections on the idea of a ´new religion´ for AI. The goal is to expose the possible implications of the development of AI on the selfhood and dignity of the human person in respect to the socialethical teachings of the Christianity in case a new ´artificial religion´ would appear.
Attribution of Religious Characteristics to AI
Journal of Religion and Social Communication, 2023
Today we find a number of attributions of religious characteristics to AI. In usages like “apocalyptic AI,” “homo deus,” “AI as Imago Dei,” “virtual immortality,” etc., we find religious characteristics being attributed to AI related processes. It would do well to critically analyse such attributes from the perspective of religious studies to understand their impact upon the dynamics of religions. One such core dynamic, acknowledged invariably in religious and theological studies, is that of the experience of “transcendence.” Several studies on religious transcendence analyse its “vertical” and “horizontal” aspects down through historical epochs. The modern era, in particular, is understood to have induced various shades of immanentism, along with an inability to transcendence. This paper studies some selected religious attributes made to AI and analyse their impact upon the experience of transcendence today