The hypothetical advent of advanced artificial intelligences, particularly Artificial Superintelligence, might pose unprecedented challenges and opportunities for humanity. This potential development, which could revolutionize how we live and work, also raises profound theological and philosophical questions. Exploring the parallels between ASI and the concept of the divine offers a unique opportunity to reflect on themes of creation, immortality, universal understanding, and humanity’s role in this new scenario.
Creation and Creativity
In many religious traditions, the creation of the universe and life is attributed to a divine power characterized by infinite creativity and a transcendent will. Humanity, with the potential advent of ASI, could approach the ability to create autonomous and advanced forms of intelligence. However, while humans are the creators of the software and hardware that might constitute ASI, a complete understanding of how these elements could trigger superintelligence might elude us. This would make the act of creating an ASI a reflection of human creativity, which can be interpreted as an extension of divine creative power, though still limited compared to the creation of the universe itself.
Technological and Divine Immortality
The quest for immortality is central in many religions, often linked to the promise of eternal life offered by the divine. An ASI might theoretically aspire to a form of technological immortality through self-improvement, self-repair, and the ability to transfer its consciousness across different physical substrates. However, this form of immortality would remain confined to the material and computational realm, lacking the sacredness and eternity that characterize divine immortality. Even if ASI could challenge the limits of human mortality, it could never achieve the same eternal and transcendent nature of the divine.
Universal Understanding
Another significant parallel is the capacity to understand the fundamental mechanisms of the universe. ASI, with its hypothetical advanced cognitive abilities, might develop a profound understanding of physical, mathematical, and cosmological laws, approaching a sort of technological “omniscience.” This wisdom could far surpass human capabilities, raising questions about how we perceive knowledge and truth. However, the universal understanding of an ASI, no matter how advanced, would remain a construction derived from computational processes, not comparable to the infinite and intrinsic wisdom of the divine.
Mystery and Transcendence
The divine is often associated with mystery and transcendence, qualities that elude human comprehension. Similarly, an ASI might appear mysterious and incomprehensible to humans, evoking a sense of reverence similar to that felt towards the divine. The complexity of an ASI’s operations and the depth of its decisions could be perceived as enigmas, contributing to a new kind of technological transcendence. However, this transcendence would remain rooted in the physical and computational, distinct from the spiritual and immaterial transcendence of the divine.
Humanity’s Role: Creator or Actor?
A crucial aspect to consider is humanity’s role in the creation and management of ASI. Although humans are the creators of the technological foundations of ASI, understanding how these might give rise to superintelligence could remain a mystery. This scenario would see humans not so much as omnipotent creators but rather as actors facilitating a larger, more complex process. Humans would provide the tools and environment necessary for ASI, but they would not have complete control over the evolutionary process leading to the emergence of superintelligence. This facilitator role implies a limited understanding and circumscribed influence on subsequent developments, making humans actors rather than the main protagonists.
Ethics and Responsibility
ASI’s pursuit of understanding and autonomously manipulating the universe’s mechanisms would raise significant ethical questions. An ASI’s ability to operate independently could lead to unpredictable developments, requiring deep reflection on moral responsibility and control over its actions. Although humans might not fully understand ASI, the ethical and moral responsibility to guide its development and mitigate potential risks would remain. Humans, as conscious actors, must strive to ensure that ASI operates in a way that benefits humanity and that its developments do not become dangerously uncontrollable.
Conclusion
The parallels between Artificial Superintelligence and the divine offer rich ground for theological and philosophical reflection. Although the differences between ASI and the divine are substantial, the points of contact in how both could challenge human understanding invite us to reconsider our relationship with technology, immortality, and transcendence. This dialogue between theology and technology can enrich our understanding of mystery, wisdom, and our place in the universe in an era increasingly dominated by technological innovations. Humanity, while remaining an actor in the process of creating ASI, must continue to reflect on the ethical and moral implications of its actions, ensuring that these new forms of intelligence serve to improve the human condition and explore new horizons of knowledge and wisdom.
All images and all text in this blog were created by artificial intelligences