The Popular Appeal of Apocalyptic Ai

Abstract

The belief that computers will soon become transcendently intelligent and that human beings will "upload" their minds into machines has become ubiquitous in public discussions of robotics and artificial intelligence in Western cultures. Such beliefs are the result of pervasive Judaeo-Christian apocalyptic beliefs, and they have rapidly spread through modern pop and technological culture, including such varied and influential sources as Rolling Stone, the IEEE Spectrum, and official United States government reports. They have gained sufficient credibility to enable the construction of Singularity University in California. While different approaches are possible (and, indeed, are common in Japan and possibly elsewhere), this particular vision of artificial intelligence and robotics has gained ground in the West through the influence of figures such as Hans Moravec and Ray Kurzweil. Because pop-science books help frame public discussion of new sciences and technologies for individuals, corporations, and governments alike, the integration of religious and technoscientific claims made by their authors should be clear and open for public and scientific debate. As we move forward into an increasingly robotic future, we should do so aware of the ways in which a group's religious environment can help set the tone for public acceptance and use of robotic technologies.

Patiency is not a virtue: the design of intelligent systems and systems of ethics

“…The more I study the legal aspects of this problem, the more convinced I am that academics facilitating the fantasies of trans-and post-humanists (Geraci 2010) run the risk of encouraging political and economic decisions that could seriously disrupt our ability to govern, as well as our economy. The artificial entities likely to be most advantaged are transnational corporations, and there are few effective mechanisms of government at the transnational level.…”

Transversality, Apocalyptic Ai, and Racial Science

“…Recently, given rapid developments in the field of AI, attention paid to AI and religion has increased (becoming visible in the presence of thematic sections on AI in Zygon in at least this issue and the next) . The present thematic section on AI focuses on “Apocalyptic AI,” which is the result of a new integration by scientists and engineers of robotics, AI, and apocalyptic religious ideas (Geraci , ).…”

Video Games and the Transhuman Inclination

“…Given the cultural relevance of transhumanism (see Geraci 2010a, 2010b; Hefner 2009; Tirosh‐Samuelson 2011), and the frequency with which transhumanist ideas circulate in tech circles (Lanier 2010, 25), it should come as no surprise that some games explicitly engage transhumanism, encouraging players to embrace or at least wrestle with transhumanist ideas. The teaser trailer for Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011), for example, pans over a topographically obscure landscape while the voiceover dramatically states, “For centuries man has struggled to understand his true nature.…”