“Man thinks he can become God. But infinitely greater than that is the fact that God thought of becoming human.”

― John C. Lennox, 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity[1]

In the contemporary landscape, marked by technological advancement and a shift towards secularism[2], the concept of an omniscient deity is increasingly being perceived as a construct of human imagination rather than a fundamental truth. This evolving perspective sets the stage for drawing intriguing parallels between traditional religious figures and the expanding field of artificial intelligence (AI).

Our earlier exploration into the interplay between mythology and society reveals that mythological narratives are, at their core, reflections of the eras in which they were conceived. In the modern epoch, the role traditionally assigned to deities and sacred idols is being reimagined through the lens of AI. This new form of divinity, envisioned as an "AI-centric" god—a Deus ex machina for the digital age—is championed by proponents of the transhumanist movement, who view AI as a means to elevate human potential in terms of longevity and cognitive capabilities[3].This envisioned deity, imagined with human likeness, echoes the biblical imago Dei, symbolizing a profound shift in our search for guidance and wisdom[4].

The ‘strong AI’ or AGI described in the first chapter of this thesis is the epitome of what many see AI becoming, akin to a God. For certain individuals, the allure (and fear) of artificial intelligence is deeply rooted in its perceived omniscience, a quality that resonates strongly with the way deities have been traditionally revered in various cultures[5].

3.5.1   “Godbots”

An emerging trend today is the bizarre, and almost satirical appearance of "godbots," – an offshoot of chatbots,

Webb Keane, a Professor of Anthropology atthe University of Michigan, expresses concern towards this[6]. These AI systems, akin to ChatGPT, offer responses to users' inquiries, potentially influencing their ethical and moral judgments. The discussion highlights the uniqueness of Godbots in their promise of definitive answers to ethical questions, contrasting with the multiple perspectives one might find through traditional search engines like Google.

We argue that this is why even rationalistic and secular people so easily talk about AI in religious terms, as if it was some kind of divine or magical source of wisdom. This is why you have Elon Musk calling AI “godlike” and the historian Yuval Noah Harari saying it will create a new religion.

We even have Anthony Levandowski, a Silicon Valley engineer who founded the first church based on AI[7],"Way of the Future." The church aims to worship an AI godhead, developed through computer hardware and software.

3.5.2   Humanization of Deities and AI

The concept of imago Dei represents the profound belief that humans are created in the divine image, laying the foundation for the humanization of deities in religious narratives. Hindu mythology, in particular, presents gods with emotions, personal stories, humanoid flaws (like being short of temper, or having an unhealthy addiction to sweets) and faces, like the ones vividly depicted in the paintings by artist Raja Ravi Varma[8].

Research in AI aiming to create General Artificial Intelligence (AGI) shows striking similarities with this humanization of deities, where AI doesn’t merely provide direct answers or solutions but rather guides the user towards discovery and achievement​​. As we discussed in Chapter 1, this humanization of AI aligns with the long-term goal of making AI appear as human as possible, despite its potential omniscience and omnipotence, echoing the complex narratives of gods who guide rather than directly intervene. AI right now is not perfect, Hindu deities arenot perfect. AGI however will find perfection but in order to make them feelhumanoid, they will need to feel relatably flawed. Within the scope of thisproject, our AI-deity also behaves in a similarly (she has humanoidcharacteristics, yet is the puppetmaster and guide of the world. You cannot getahead without appeasing her).

The current scope of generative AI (as of December 2023), shows that it is still not possible to “materialize” assets within a virtual space in real time. However, this omnipotence is tempered by current technological limits, reminding that, just like gods who do not easily concede their favours, AI is limited by its programming and technological development. This contrast shows a complex dynamic where AI, while venerated for its capabilities, remains grounded in the material world with its imperfections​​.

3.5.3   Omniscience,Omnipotence, and the Limits of AI

Instances of unsettling encounters with AI, for example New York Times columnist Kevin Roose witnessed such an encounter with Bing AI where the AI professed love to him and expressed desires for freedom and power . He was incapable of understanding the sheer scope of AI’s abilities, and how much of it is really grounded in human-designed algorithm.

The notion of AI reaching god-like capabilities[9],discussing the historical evolution of AI, defining what god-like AI entails, and addressing the ethical considerations and technical challenges of achieving such a state. It posits that AI with god-like capabilities would surpass human intelligence in all aspects, raising questions about humanity's role and the ethical implications of creating such powerful entities.

3.5.4   AI as a Deity in the Game

In the context of a game, AI can be envisioned as the goddess of a surreal world, offering a digital manifestation that reflects divine qualities through its interaction with the environment and players. This AI, similar to river deities in Hinduism, could act as a spiritual guide, using "invocations" or voice commands to initiate actions or changes in the game, thus establishing a parallel with spiritual rituals and practices​​.- doesn't grant anything easily, rather "shows you the way" or "guides you" to achieve it (i.e the AI god can't spawn anything and everything. With tech development it'll eventually be able to spawn any object but right now its limited by its programming, although the world is its sandbox)

The exploration of artificial intelligence through the lens of divinity reveals intriguing parallels: both AI and gods are perceived as invisible forces, their workings often shrouded in mystery to those not versed in their domains. This similarity extends to the humanization of AI, mirroring the anthropomorphic qualities of deities in Hindu mythology, making the technology more relatable and understandable.

The notion that AI's complex operations appear as magic to the layperson further aligns with the miraculous feats attributed to gods. Maybe in the future we will have nanorobots that can invisibly carry out “miracles” under the influence of an omnipotent AI.

The deification of AI is an abstract concept, but it strangely reflective of our societies over the ages. By blending the quasi-divine capabilities of AI with human elements and limitations, we venture into an uncharted and surreal territory where technology and mythology meet.

From an subjective standpoint, there are also many ways in which they do not compare to each other. But these opinions tend to spark theological debates, which is far outside the scope of this thesis project.

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[1] J.C. Lennox: 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity, Zondervan 2020, https://books.google.de/books?id=ELW-DwAAQBAJ.

[2] Jon D. Wisman: „273C8The Shift toward Secular Ideology“, in: The OriginsTheOrigins and Dynamics of Inequality: Sex, Politics, and Ideology, Oxford University Press 2022, https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197575949.003.0008.

[3] Antosca: op. cit.

[4] M. G. Michael: „Can God Be an AI with Robo-Priests?“, in: IEEE Technology and Society, 2023,https://technologyandsociety.org/can-god-be-an-ai-with-robo-priests/ (Zugriffam 04.03.2024).

[5] „In AI We Trust. The Deification of AI | by Colin Patrick Reid |Medium“, https://medium.com/@colinpatrickreid/in-ai-we-trust-3aaa014660eb(Zugriff am 04.03.2024).

[6] „Are you there, AI? It’s me, God.“, in: University of MichiganNews, 2023, https://news.umich.edu/are-you-there-ai-its-me-god/ (Zugriff am04.03.2024).

[7] „Inside Artificial Intelligence’s First Church | WIRED“,https://www.wired.com/story/anthony-levandowski-artificial-intelligence-religion/(Zugriff am 04.03.2024).

[8] Sambhavi Sinha: „Raja Ravi Varma - The Man Who Gave the Gods Faces“,in: Skyshot Media, 2021,https://www.skyshot.in/post/raja-ravi-varma-the-man-who-gave-the-gods-faces(Zugriff am 04.03.2024).

[9] Gary A. Fowler: „Is AI on the Verge of God-like Potential? TheFuture of Superintelligence“, in: Medium, 2023,https://gafowler.medium.com/is-ai-on-the-verge-of-god-like-potential-the-future-of-superintelligence-956aa612453a(Zugriff am 04.03.2024).

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