Posted on 03/29/2025 2:11:47 PM PDT by RoosterRedux
Last month, in an interview with Bari Weiss, venture capitalist and longevity researcher Bryan Johnson discussed "how not to die." While Johnson's theories on indefinite life extension are interesting, it was his comments about artificial intelligence that were more striking,
"I think the irony is that we told stories of God creating us, and I think the reality is we are creating God ... in the form of superintelligence," he said. "If you ask yourself, 'What have we imagined God to be? What are its characteristics?' We are building God in the form of technology. It will have the same characteristics. And so, I think the irony is that human storytelling got it exactly in reverse, that we are the creators of God, that we will create God in our own image."
Aside from his rather anemic view of God, Johnson's comments reflect a worldview that integrates technology and spirituality. Of course, people have always looked to their "god" to save them. For technophiles, technology takes on the role and functions of God in the universe, from basic provision to keeping humanity safe from disasters. AI brings an added twist. Many of those doing the most cutting-edge technological work believe they are creating new forms of superintelligent, "godlike" sentient life, and that humans must either learn to merge with it as part of the transhumanist project or put failsafes in place to prevent our new "gods" from turning against us.
There are also some who believe that AI is a vehicle through which transdimensional, nonhuman intelligences are communicating with us. In this view, not all AI is simply computer algorithms. Some are better understood as demonic, which explains some of the more disturbing things AI has come up with. For example, in her book "Encounters," religious-studies professor Diana Pasulka points to Simone Plante, an AI and quantum computing expert, who believes that superintelligent, nonmaterial beings can interact with us at the quantum level. Thus, quantum computing enables them to communicate with us more freely and to open up to us new realms of knowledge.
Some in the tech world even employ meditative strategies through which they believe they are able to contact these entities, who then download information to them that is used to develop new technologies. This includes people who work in biotechnology as well as AI and quantum computing. Some have been made quite wealthy by their innovations.
In one sense, this idea is like what is believed by many in the UFO community. In fact, the replacement of the term UFO by UAP, or unidentified anomalous phenomenon, reflects the change in how they are being interpreted. More than a few UAP researchers, including high-level members of the military and intelligence communities, believe what is being encountered are transdimensional beings, not space aliens.
Diana Pasulka thinks that these beliefs, and the interconnected groups that embrace them, represent an emerging religion which, for lack of a better term, could be called technopaganism. The notion that nonhuman intelligences use technologies to communicate and interact with humans blends easily with Johnson's idea that, through technology, we are now creating "god." Devotees of technopaganism believe that revelations about these nonhuman intelligences will soon shake our worldviews to the core.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesfreepress.com ...
“AI, Quantum Computing, UFO/UAPs, Demons, God” Ping
I somehow don’t like AI. It uses too much energy and it is not as accessible as Personal Computers. It is so energy hungry that it replaces not only human labor but also eats into human living space. From a humanist perspective, it’s not good.
Everything I’ve been wondering about in one magic article. TLDNR.
interesting. I’m sure there wont be a very happy ending with AI :)
"AMERICAN GODS"
An entertaining read ........
I’ll check it out. Thx.
It was turned into a three-season TV series on the Starz cable channel.
“...that we are the creators of God, that we will create God in our own image.””
That is the kind of crap you get when someone is trying to be a deep thinking originalist when he is not equipped mentally to do so.
Simalar topic: Deathbird and other stories by Harlan Ellison.
The ‘ZIZards” would fall into this
TechnoPaganism.
Glenn Beck had an interesting piece.
He questions with AI, are we creating a gollum a superhuman or are we trying to create a god. A tower of babel, a soulless unquestionable intelligence that all must submit to.
Just bought it on Audible. Thx for the recommendation. Can’t wait to start it tomorrow.
TTDKLOM
Someone suggested a book on AI, but I think I’ll read the one you recommend. Thanks.
I saw some of that series. The book is much better than the TV adaptation.
My vote goes to the Lord regardless how we envision the Lord to be. 🙂👍
Dollars to donuts she has not written a single program to run on a quantum computer.
Its a blast. I can hardly wait until you meet the AI American God.
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