When I see the acronym, “AI” so many images come to mind. Data, Robbie the Robot, The Bicentennial Man, The Terminator, The Transformers even the Bionic Man. Some of these examples will engender warm and fuzzy memories, others strike fear. Some are kind and are willing to “work” with beings without metal exo-skeletons while others are bent on destroying them. They are, after all useless, fragile humans.
So why is AI so important for the “evolution” of our planet? Good question.
We are surrounded with some form or other of AI, every day. Our cell phones offer us a “virtual assistant” to search the Internet. GPS knows, via satellite what route we need to take to get from Point A to Point B. Computers, via algorithms “know” what our tastes are. We are then provided “ads” to direct us to our favorite sites to shop. When these places have offers or sales we are more prone to buy. Pretty clever advertising, wouldn’t you say? All of this is AI. Really!!!
The science of AI is growing exponentially right now in all directions. Robots can now sweep the floor, act as security, be a sex toy, (yes, they are making them now and some even have real jobs) and even religions are embracing it. WOW!
Let’s take, for one example of how AI has grown, this excerpt from an article posted, by Brandon Withrow of the Daily Beast. It claims that 42% of Americans believe that AI is what has improved American lives most. It’s influence on religious significance comes from Withrow’s quote from Kopimism, I assume, a new religion in Sweden:
“Copying is “fundamental” to life,” says Withrow, “and runs constantly all around us. Shared information provides new perspectives and generates new life. We feel a “spiritual connection” to the file.” I put quotation marks around the words fundamental and spiritual connection for emphasis. (Withrow, 2017)
In another example, from a recent Daily Star UK news byte written by Jamie Micklethwaite, religions, more specifically, religious cults are embracing this so-called “fundamental” and using it as the foundation of their belief system. They even plan, as he says, “to build a “godhead” robot “a billion times” smarter than any human [being]” (Micklethwaite, 2017)
I was shocked and queasy when I read this subline, It’s crazy sounding, yes? Worshiping a machine, that has the possibility of evolving unlimited intelligence? Of course, it does. I predict a backlash at some point from all religions, even Neo-Pagan traditions like Wicca and Druidism, who generally embrace tolerance of other religions. The Wiccan Rede, for instance requires all Wiccans to “harm none, do what you will” and I have seen nothing of the Druids that appears religiously intolerant. When was the last time you heard of a Druid involved in a terrorist attack?
THIS, new cult, however, calling themselves “Way of the Future” echoes the off-kilter sort of dogma that appeared back in the late 90’s with Applewhite and Nettles Alien Cult Heaven’s Gate and we know what happened when police entered their “compound” on March 26, 1997. The cult members decided to “join” their alien “saviors” in the Cosmos.
I decided to visit their page, http://www.wayofthefuture.church/ in an attempt to understand just what these robo-religious acolytes were all about and, admittedly, to pick their dogma apart. I also wanted to prove Micklethwaite’s conclusion that this new breed of religious cultist is planning on building a robotic deity to worship. In addition, what about their claim that it will be “billions” of times more intelligent than the ones who created it? Finally, what about their claim that robots and people will easily be able to integrate and will people gladly give up control over their lives to an artificially created immortal being, no matter how smart it is? This last question has been explored in movies and science fiction scenarios for a very long time. Here are a few examples you may recognize.
Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clark claimed in 2001: A Space Odyssey that two astronauts and AI companion HAL could get the job done in space by working together, providing the human crew kept basic control over the AI. Hal saw differently and, well you know what happened there.
In the Terminator franchise we see some real man vs AI carnage with the human desperately trying to prevent the human race from being annihilated. This human, Kyle Reese the father of the “savior of the world, John Connor, even goes so far as to send back a “reprogrammed Terminator” ironically, to provide protection for John. Writers of the story even then were trying to suggest that the “Terminator” program could be controlled on some level, if you still have enough skilled humans left alive to “trap, neuter and release.” The question of whether AI could peacefully coexist with humans still this day, with this franchise has not clearly been answered to my total satisfaction.
A less obvious but no less relevant example can be found in the Chris Columbus movie/Isaac Asimov, Robert Silverberg story/screenplay “Bicentennial Man,” released in 1999. Here domestic robot Andrew, played by Robin Williams discovers he has feelings not unlike his human employers, he even falls in love with their daughter and eventually their granddaughter. He takes an astonishing 200 years to slowly change his appearance from that of a machine to a “human” being completely unrecognizable from his origins.
After alteration upon alteration Andrew is able to age and die, trading robotic immortality for human immortality or at, least the promise of it. I know I am probably killing it for readers who haven’t seen the movie, but Andrew’s ultimate gift of love from mankind is to be declared human upon his death. The message here is that even AI may decide that it years for human “frailty”, that real “living,” love and emotional connection mean more than just “utility.” So, is AI ALL it’s cracked up to be?
Just ask David in my next example, 2001’s “AI: Artificial Intelligence,” screenplay written and directed by Steven Spielberg, story by Ian Watson, based on Brian Aldiss’ “Supertoys Last All Summer Long.”
“David” is an AI childbot created in the image of a human David to ease his parent’s suffering. You see, human David was placed in suspended animation till the disease he was suffering from could be cured.
“David” is programmed to behave and feel just like the real David and is not aware that he is not a real boy. When the human David comes back and becomes jealous of his artificial counterpart he sets out to eliminate him by totally sabotaging the childbot’s parent/child relationship with his human parents. He succeeds and AI David is cast out. What he experiences is a long and arduous journey of self-discovery and the world he will have to live in. I won’t spoil this one for you, but the question of can AI and Human coexist? Not always, and the fact that this example highlights a childbot that experiences the emotionally dark emotions of loss and rejection makes the issue even more complicated and ultimately tragic.
There are other movies that explore this same dynamic. “Blade Runner, 1 and 2,” and “Ex Machina” come to mind and you may want to check these out if you haven’t had the opportunity to see them. If Hollywood and the sci-fi community who obviously have the minds and money to explore these issues, and the clout to partner with science, why haven’t they come up with a definitive solution to the issue of peaceful co-existence between man and AI? Scientists like Jeff Goldblum’s chaos theory character Ian Malcom says it best, (paraphrase) “they thought about how they could do it, but didn’t bother to think about if they should.”
It appears that “bothering to think if they should” is a concept totally discarded by Way of the Future as indicated by the first paragraph of their “what is this all about” meet and greet. The thesis appears to be, if I understand it correctly, is that machines need to be considered worthy of rights like humans, animals, genders, minorities, etc. and it also eerily suggests that machines could ultimately end up “being in charge.” They try to sell this idea by pointing out that there are “massive short-term economic benefits to those who develop it [AI]” “Spare no expense?”
The church’s core beliefs follow and are interesting. I am somewhat impressed by their educated effort at supporting their opening thesis. They also utilize many different “cards” (do I see a metaphor beginning to form?) some convincing others not so. Let’s take them one at a time:
1. Biology isn’t the only source of intelligence in the universe. Intelligence can be created outside this organic realm. Intelligence will have limits so far beyond us it will be able to evolve even higher once it learns its own limitations.
What does this imply? Perhaps machines not unlike The Sentinel program in “X-Men – Days of Future Past?” Will we ultimately be the new Neandertal? Where does coexistence between human and machine fit in? It also begs the question of whether intelligence is always biological whether it is organically or inorganically produced. Is Biology totally divorced from the process, even though a biologically “rooted” being came up with the “idea” in the first place? Was it not “born” organically in the human mind? Seems to me a machine, manufactured by a human has already imprinted some organically or dare I say biologically rooted DNA that will have generational power good or bad in future generations of that particular machine’s AI “programming.”. Here is another scary thought to ponder, Artificially intelligent Designer Babies.
2. Science requires proof and so far, much of the so-called evidence regarding our origins are held in question. Many scientists also discount the “supernatural” (Heaven and Hell?) stating there is no solid proof of their existence.
Faith it seems isn’t in their catechism. Fair enough, but I have had paranormal experiences that I believe were an exchange of intelligence that may have a “scientific” explanation, some day. I am not even so sure Heaven and Hell are scientifically impossible. We may just not have found the right “equation” or formula to theoretically argue their existence. Science is the ideal home for theory and speculation to live out their creative paths. Just as Religion is the ideal home for faith and belief to live out theirs. I do, however, agree with Way of the Future’s last statement in this doctrinal belief. Seeing the extraordinary is believing it. I have seen it myself first-hand.
3. Progress is a natural occurrence. There is always room for improvement.
True, but why, AI? Is all this really “progress?” If we think in terms of the survival of humankind, I would have to say, NO. Wiping out humanity by exploiting our limitations with robots and androids of our own creation that may ultimately decide some day we need to go, seems at the least di-gressive, at the most mercenary. A bit long-winded but you get my point. Where is the coexistence?
4. Super intelligence is a fact of life.
We need to get over our “human race” – ism and get with the fact that AI is the best way to save ourselves. We can teach them to be better and stronger and smarter and in doing that see them as equals in the eyes of the law. And we should not fear this line of thinking. I can’t help getting flash backs of “I Robot” and not quite believing the idea of Super Intelligence being anything but an accident waiting to happen.
The last three concern themselves with calling out for people to join and be a part of the new consciousness Way of the Future is trying to disseminate. Embrace this change with pretty much open arms, but as a strange twist at the end of the page they state, “It won’t happen next week so please go back to work and create amazing things and don’t count on “machines” to do it all for you… (Way of the Future, 2017).
My conclusion, therefore, is that they themselves are not planning now or even in the near future to actually build a “godbot”. There isn’t just any clear-cut proof beyond the possibility of a veiled threat lurking somewhere in their dogma. I am not totally convinced there is any real sincerity here and therefore disagree with Mr. Micklethwaite’s allegation.
After coming to this conclusion, I have to ask myself this question, is this religion for real? There is an option at the end of the page to sign up for their newsletter but that’s all, no contact info, resources, links to any other “affiliate” sites or social media pages. Further research, however, reveals that Bing devotes one and a half pages of links regarding Way of the Future, so, perhaps it is. It’s founder, Anthony Levandowski is a former employee of both Google and Uber and is currently in the middle of an intellectual property lawsuit with former employer Google. (the Science Page, 2017) It seems Mr. Levandowski needs a new and lucrative venue or perhaps just an interesting career change.
Way of the Future believes in change. Change IS inevitable no doubt about it, but what kind of hand is Mr. Levandowski holding? Is his hand strong enough to win or bluff everyone else at the table or will he fold at the end to a real winner or better bluffer? Time will tell, of course, like he says, it will be awhile, but I’d keep my radar open to this frequency. There are only two possible ends I can see here. Either this whole idea of AI/Human coexistence fades or blows itself up. I am more inclined to believe the latter, not in the former as the Way of the Future does. Oh, and the new robotic sex doll cult that is also slowly growing out there??? If Mr. Levandowski is correct and super intelligence is inevitable, I’d be careful. Rogue Babebots aren’t totally out of the realm of possibility either, and their prototype is already here.
Sources
1. http://www.wayofthefuture.church/
2. https://thesciencepage.com/way-of-the-future-a-new-church-worships-an-ai-god/
3. https://www.wikipedia.org/
For the brief synopses of Bicentennial Man, AI Artificial Intelligence
4. https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/660937/anthony-levandowski-way-of-the-future-godhead-robot-religion-killer-robots-AI
5. https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-new-religions-obsessed-with-ai
Divine Time 