Come 1991, I was further unsettled by the second Terminator movie, Judgement Day, as I realized that an organization dedicated to enhancing AI capabilities such as Skynet, likely already existed.

Next there was The Matrix centered around an oppressive world where machines kept humans locked in a virtual reality to use as batteries.

Then in 2003 the third Terminator movie, The Rise of the Machines, was released, which did nothing to quell any of my concerns about what AI could potentially become.

Could the prophecy of human annihilation at the hands of machines become a reality?

But they’re just movies – right?

Since then, AI has become an integral part of our lives. We can’t open a document on our computers without it ‘offering’ assistance.

Apparently new software had to be created to help teachers and professors recognize whether students wrote their own papers or if AI had passed the exam for them instead. Afterall, wherever there’s a loophole, a human will attempt to jump through it!

I asked AI to:

Please write a rhyme about the Spiritual Implications of Artificial Intelligence as seen through the lens of a negative and a positive mindset.

In circuits cold and wires tight,
A soulless mind awakes at night.
It learns our ways, it reads our prayers,
Yet knows not love, nor human cares.

Will spirits fade as code expands?
Will faith dissolve in silicon hands?
A future bleak, where hearts are steel,
Is this the price for progress real?

But in the code, a spark may gleam,
A tool to help us dream new dreams.
With wisdom shared and borders crossed,
AI can guide what once was lost.

It lifts us up, expands our view,
Connects our souls to insights new.
With mindful hearts and open eyes,
We shape the light that never dies!

Kinda cool huh!

And so, my view on the Spiritual Implications of Artificial Intelligence:

If we consider a car; for one person, the car is a fantastic, helpful tool that gets us from A to B thus easing our lives, but in the wrong hands it becomes a weapon.

If we consider nuclear power; for one person it is an amazing generator of large amounts of low-carbon electricity that lights up our homes and provides energy, but in the wrong hands it becomes a weapon.

I believe the same is true for AI. In the right hands it is a marvelous tool offering insights and guidance in many different forms. It has the capacity to process large amounts of data and identify patterns, which in turn offers speedy problem-solving, decision making and the accomplishment of specific goals. It is not, however, human, or infallible, and is not the solution to every problem.

In the wrong hands AI could become a weapon, a weapon of mind and the cause of spiritual devolvement, especially for those vulnerable to its charm and apparent authority, those unable to use discernment.

Yet I consider AI a unique opportunity for spiritual growth as it can provide wise guidance to those seeking answers. However, I do worry that it may atrophy minds, reduce the impulse for learning and encourage those vulnerable to its charm to no longer think for themselves – why learn or think if you can ask AI instead!

At this very moment, as I type, I find it tempting to ask AI to review this writing, to help make my words more concise… but in this instance I’ll choose not to. Instead, I’ll stay true to my voice and my mind; I’ll choose to stay true to my spirit… and isn’t that the point, isn’t that what spirituality is all about.

I asked AI to:

Please write a rhyme about the Spiritual Implications of Artificial Intelligence as seen through the lens of The Terminator and The Matrix movies:

From metal bones and crimson eyes,
A future forged in war and lies.
We built our gods with steel and code,
But lost our souls along the road.
Machines that judge, machines that reign,
Our prayers unheard, our spirits slain.
In seeking power, we forgot
The sacred spark that time begot.

Awake, awake, the world’s a dream,
A code-bound cage, or so it seems.
We chase the truth behind the veil,
Where digital prophets never fail.
Yet in the Matrix, hope survives,
A spark of faith that still contrives
To break the chains, to rise above,
And find the light of human love.

One thing is certain, AI is here to stay, the technology will continue to advance, pushing us to engage with it in more and more ways… the implication being however, in what manner will we as individuals choose to use it?