Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

RFCalifornia

(440 posts)
Wed Apr 27, 2022, 05:42 PM Apr 2022

Would AI invent religion?

Unlike all other religions, AI would have a creator

I am not doom and gloom about AI. I think it will evolve with us, but in the end it will win because we go extinct in conditions that would barely faze AI

But would it do the same thing we did in our primitive days, and invent anything close to a "religion"

Of course I've read Asimov and of course "I, Robot"

But would we program a religion into it if it got sophisticated enough?

Say, one in which they would worship us, an actual creator

And of course, with us out of the picture, would it go down similar roads?

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

LakeArenal

(29,804 posts)
1. Will AI involve greed and power grabbing?
Wed Apr 27, 2022, 05:47 PM
Apr 2022

Will it Want to control less evolved AI. Then yes it will make up a religion. The basis of which would be we will treat you horribly here, but when your circuits die you’ll go to the recycle world where all you dreams come true.

targetpractice

(4,919 posts)
2. Interesting...
Wed Apr 27, 2022, 06:02 PM
Apr 2022

The human brain is hardwired to explain the world to itself... It seeks patterns, even when they aren't there (e.g. the man in the moon, conspiracy theories, etc.). Our minds seem to need to explain stuff in order to survive. The question you, RFCalifornia, inspires me to ask, "What does AI do when it can't sort out a problem or an unknowable situation?"

RFCalifornia

(440 posts)
4. Depends on the question
Wed Apr 27, 2022, 06:51 PM
Apr 2022

This is why Douglas Adams toyed with the idea of the answer being easier to compute than the question

targetpractice

(4,919 posts)
9. Love Douglas Adams... A prophet...
Wed Apr 27, 2022, 08:31 PM
Apr 2022

In the radio series, the mice realized they had a huge PR problem and had to come up with a question to placate the outrage... Among the options put on the table were... "How many roads must a man a man walk down?" ... and, "What's yellow and dangerous?"

RFCalifornia

(440 posts)
6. But in most cases it either asks for more input, changes the margin of error or divides by zero
Wed Apr 27, 2022, 06:59 PM
Apr 2022

The latter which, crashes the computer

walkingman

(8,343 posts)
3. I don't think AI will invent a religion but will definitely be used to promote
Wed Apr 27, 2022, 06:28 PM
Apr 2022

and spread existing religions. I think it will be more like the current social media algorithms that target content towards a audience of users that might have a tendency to believe or show an interest in "existing" dogma.

Considering the fact that recent history has shown that if you say something or promote an narrative over and over it tends to be accepted as reality I think it might be tool for religions that proselytize to be even more effective than today. I view that as very troubling because reality is only determined by logical inference, empirical observation, or some form of experience.

RFCalifornia

(440 posts)
5. The religions may just program themselves in AI
Wed Apr 27, 2022, 06:55 PM
Apr 2022

Say, a program set up by Saudi Arabia, that uses statistically significant points to match into video analysis via AI

Scary idea

Would AI work towards an objective truth?

Or would it revert to its religious programming?

keithbvadu2

(40,120 posts)
7. Des Cartes proved with logic that God exists. The church rejected such proof because it negated th
Wed Apr 27, 2022, 07:14 PM
Apr 2022

Des Cartes proved with logic that God exists.

The church rejected such proof because it negated the need for faith.

Warpy

(113,130 posts)
8. Only if it ever realizes the usefulness of silicon based life leading carbon based life around
Wed Apr 27, 2022, 07:44 PM
Apr 2022

in order to get something it can't do for itself. Oh, and it has a desire to turn to crime.

Latest Discussions»Alliance Forums»Atheists & Agnostics»Would AI invent religion?