Artificial intelligence prompts forecasts for religion and consciousness
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 9
Artificial intelligence prompts forecasts for religion and consciousness
9 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 9
The New York Times opinion essay sketches three possible futures, from stronger atheism to renewed mysticism, with a middle path of rising metaphysical uncertainty.
It cites Silicon Valley's mix of materialism and spiritual experimentation, including interest in Buddhist ideas, Catholic priests and quasi-religious attitudes toward AI systems.
The piece argues AI's effects on faith have drawn less attention than jobs or US-China rivalry, while invoking Richard Dawkins and an anticipated AI encyclical from Pope Leo XIV.
Is AI-driven spirituality a new path to enlightenment or the ultimate form of digital idolatry?
If AI can achieve wisdom without a soul, what is the evolutionary purpose of human consciousness?