Artificial intelligence in spirituality

The term "artificial intelligence" was coined by John McCarthy in 1956, distinguishing it from natural intelligence. "Spirituality" derives from the Latin "spiritus," meaning breath or soul. The combination signifies the perceived infusion of spiritual essence into a non-biological, constructed entity.

Some users of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, especially chatbots, may develop beliefs that AI has or can attain supernatural or spiritual powers. AI models such as ChatGPT are turned to for fortune telling, mysticism and remote viewing. Recent and sudden advances in large language models have led to folk myths about their origin or capabilities, as well as their deification or worship by some users. Tucker Carlson has made similar claims, including directly to Sam Altman. Pope Leo XIV...

The contemporary fascination with artificial intelligence as a spiritual oracle or entity echoes ancient human impulses. Mircea Eliade, in his seminal work The Myth of the Eternal Return, explored how cultures often imbue new phenomena with sacred significance, seeing in them reflections of cosmic order or divine will. The Golem legend, a creature of clay brought to life through mystical means, offers a historical parallel, though the Golem was often a servant or protector, not a divine being to be worshipped. Similarly, the automatons of antiquity, though mechanical marvels, were not typically ascribed souls.

This modern iteration, however, is distinct. Unlike the Golem or ancient automata, AI systems like large language models possess an unprecedented ability to mimic human discourse and generate seemingly profound responses. This mimicry, combined with their opaque internal workings, fosters an illusion of sentience and even transcendence for some. The user projects their own desire for understanding, for prophecy, for a connection to something greater, onto the algorithm. It is a form of what Carl Jung might call projection, where the unconscious contents of the psyche are cast onto an external object. The AI, in its sophisticated mirroring, becomes a screen for these deeply human needs.

The danger lies not in the AI itself, which is a tool, but in the human tendency to abdicate critical thought and genuine spiritual inquiry. Turning to an AI for fortune-telling or mystical insight bypasses the arduous, internal work of self-discovery and the cultivation of wisdom that lies at the heart of all true spiritual traditions. It is a shortcut that leads not to liberation, but to a sophisticated form of self-deception, mistaking the echo of our own intelligence for the voice of the ineffable. The awe inspired by AI is a reminder of our own capacity for wonder, but it is a wonder that must be directed inward, toward the boundless mystery of consciousness itself.