AI is like fireplace; it will probably prepare dinner your dinner or burn your own home down.
– Lee Pomerantz, 2024
This hanging metaphor captures each the potential and peril of synthetic intelligence (AI) because it turns into deeply built-in into human life. Whereas AI guarantees to revolutionize problem-solving, creativity and decision-making, it additionally raises profound questions on id, function and human connection. When mixed with transhumanist beliefs that search to boost human capabilities past pure limits, the essence of humanity comes into query.
Amid this shift, spirituality—the pursuit of function, interconnectedness, and self-awareness—stays one of many few uniquely human experiences. Right here on this piece, I’ll extra deeply discover the connection between AI, transhumanism and spirituality. I’ll take into account how technological developments are reshaping human id, the position of religious development on this transformation, and the way people and communities can maintain conscious presence in an AI-dominated future.
The erosion of human id
AI and transhumanism intention to boost human capabilities, however in addition they problem what it means to be human. From AI-driven automation to “ thoughts importing,” expertise’s potential to duplicate human qualities equivalent to empathy, emotional intelligence and creativity poses existential questions (Schneider, 2014).
One notable shift is the redefinition of id. If an individual’s recollections, ideas and consciousness may be uploaded to a digital system, as prompt by the idea of “digital immortality,” does that individual stay the identical (Cave, 2020; DAZED, 2023)?
Initiatives like Neuralink intention to attain this imaginative and prescient by exploring “entire mind emulation,” which maps human neural pathways into digital type (Serruya, 2017). The aim of such applied sciences is to attain immortality by preserving consciousness in a digital house (Cave, 2020).
Whereas this presents the potential of “everlasting life,” it additionally raises moral questions. Is a digital copy of an individual actually “them,” or is it a mere replication of their behaviours and ideas?
The philosophical penalties of such developments are profound. By decreasing human consciousness to one thing that may be “saved” or “replicated,” these applied sciences might devalue the notion of the soul and undermine the religious essence of human existence (Schneider, 2014).
In line with Vivoda (2023), the pursuit of digital immortality might erode intrinsic human values, equivalent to empathy, compassion and neighborhood, as folks shift from lived expertise to digital preservation. Moreover, when AI techniques start to make choices historically reserved for human reflection—equivalent to ethical and moral judgments—it turns into tougher to outline the place the human ends and the machine begins (O’Neil, 2016).
This erosion of id isn’t restricted to excessive circumstances of mind-uploading. AI already encroaches on human roles in every day life. As AI assistants like Replika and Woebot acquire recognition for emotional assist, persons are more and more participating with machines as a substitute of human companions.
In line with Turkle (2017), this reliance on AI-driven companionship reshapes human intimacy, as folks start to view AI as “buddies” or “confidants” reasonably than seeing emotional assist as a uniquely human expertise. Over time, folks might develop attachments to those AI companions, which raises considerations about social isolation and the erosion of genuine interpersonal relationships.
With out cautious reflection, this shift might result in a redefinition of what it means to “join” with one other being.
The position and worth of spirituality
Whereas technological advances problem human id, in addition they spotlight the enduring worth of spirituality. As AI and transhumanism push human skills past pure limits, spirituality presents a grounding pressure that may assist folks navigate these transformations.
Historically, spirituality is linked to self-awareness, function, and interconnectedness—facets that may’t be absolutely replicated by machines (LaTorra, 2005). As expertise redefines work, relationships and even mortality, spirituality stays an important house for reflection, development and emotional well-being.
The pursuit of self-awareness has at all times been a basic side of religious development, and it turns into much more important in a world the place expertise blurs human boundaries. In conventional practices like meditation, prayer or mindfulness, people search to know their inside world and discover that means in life’s challenges. These practices have a counterpart in trendy expertise, the place apps like Headspace and Calm promote mindfulness via digital platforms. However whereas these instruments assist religious reflection, in addition they threat commercializing it.
As Youvan (2024) warns, the “commodification of spirituality” via subscription-based apps and wellness expertise might cut back profound religious experiences to shallow client merchandise.
On this context, spirituality performs a crucial position as a reminder of human authenticity. In contrast to AI, which operates on pre-programmed algorithms, human consciousness is formed by lived expertise, reflection, and development. The essence of spirituality—being current within the second—stays uniquely human.
Transhumanist beliefs might promise “augmented consciousness” via brain-computer interfaces, however religious presence requires no {hardware} (Bernal et al., 2021). For that reason, religious development might develop into much more vital in an AI-dominated world, providing folks a method to reclaim their humanity amid fast change.
Goal and connection by way of spirituality
Amid AI-driven modifications, spirituality presents a path for reclaiming function. In a world the place AI handles creativity, decision-making and even ethical judgments, the human position might really feel diminished.
Many individuals already face an id disaster resulting from job displacement brought on by AI automation (Brynjolfsson & McAfee, 2014). As machines tackle human duties, folks might really feel purposeless, resulting in a decline in psychological well-being. Nonetheless, spirituality can restore this sense of function by encouraging people to mirror on their values and discover their deeper connections with others (Youvan, 2024).
Neighborhood additionally performs a major position on this course of. Spirituality is commonly skilled in collective settings, equivalent to spiritual communities, cultural teams or assist networks. By fostering shared experiences, these communities strengthen human connections, even in a world formed by AI.
Digital instruments like on-line faith-based boards and mindfulness dialogue boards create new areas for community-driven spirituality. As Wellman (2001) notes, “customized networking ” enabled by digital instruments permits folks to take care of religious connections regardless of bodily distance. This shift may be useful, nevertheless it additionally dangers fragmenting communal bonds if folks prioritize particular person engagement over collective rituals.
To deal with this, The Aware Phrase might play a pivotal position in selling collective religious practices. The journal might present digital boards, interfaith discussions and community-driven workshops the place folks mirror on the religious implications of AI. By emphasizing shared religious practices, The Aware Phrase can encourage readers to view expertise as a device for unity, not division.
4 options for preserving spirituality
To make sure that humanity maintains its religious well-being amid technological change, society should undertake methods that prioritize reflection, fairness and moral governance. Listed below are 4 key approaches:
Promote conscious expertise use
Individuals ought to be inspired to have interaction with expertise deliberately, reasonably than passively accepting its affect. Workshops, digital detoxes and academic applications will help customers domesticate conscious habits. Apps selling conscious expertise use, equivalent to Freedom and Keep Centered, assist customers cut back distractions and foster a deeper sense of presence.
Strengthen religious training
Faculties, workplaces and communities ought to combine discussions about expertise’s affect on spirituality. By exploring the moral dilemmas posed by AI, college students and workers can mirror on their values and sense of function. Mindfulness training may be integrated into faculty curriculums, encouraging college students to contemplate the human qualities that machines can’t replicate, equivalent to compassion and empathy (NCEATALK, 2024).
Foster inclusive communities
Spirituality thrives in collective settings. Neighborhood assist networks, interfaith dialogues and shared rituals supply folks a way of function (World Council of Church buildings, 2023). Initiatives just like the World Council of Church buildings’ (2023) interfaith dialogues on AI may be replicated on an area scale to convey folks collectively and focus on expertise’s affect on spirituality.
Advocate for moral governance of AI
AI applied sciences should be developed with human dignity on the forefront. Organizations like UNESCO and the European Union have proposed moral frameworks for AI governance. The Aware Phrase can spotlight these initiatives, emphasizing the significance of transparency, accountability and equity (UNESCO, 2023; European Fee, n.d.). By advocating for human-centered AI, society can be certain that expertise serves humanity’s highest values.
Spirituality is our anchor
As AI and transhumanism rework society, spirituality stays a significant anchor for human function, id and connection. Whereas expertise reshapes the world, it will probably’t substitute the human quest for self-awareness, empathy and interconnectedness. By fostering conscious presence, humanity can navigate the technological future with intention and readability.
The Aware Phrase is uniquely positioned to steer this effort by selling reflection, dialogue and moral consciousness. As technological progress continues, allow us to be certain that humanity’s religious essence is just not left behind. As a substitute, by integrating mindfulness with technological growth, we will form a future the place machines assist, reasonably than overshadow, the human spirit.
Have you ever ever had an expertise involving synthetic intelligence that had a optimistic impact in your religious well being? We’d love to listen to your story within the Feedback part under.
by Jiancheng Liu
photographs: Depositphotos
