AI as the antichrist?

Is AI the antichrist?

A few months ago I visited a regional evening about AI with a friend. We read Revelation 13 (about the antichrist) and we sang a Psalm about idols that have eyes but do not see, ears but do not hear. That set the tone. 😯

I was startled by it, even though I understand something of the fear. If you read Revelation 13, you recognise elements that come frighteningly close: a system in which buying and selling is only possible for those who bear the mark of the beast. Technology that tracks exactly what people do, builds profiles of them and determines what you do or do not get access to. Artificial intelligence makes this kind of control easier and smarter than ever.

Still, we must be careful with that conclusion.

In recent centuries many things and people have already been labelled "the antichrist": the Pope, the Roman church, Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, Islam, America, capitalism, digitalisation. They all imitated divine power and deceived people. And yes, that could conceivably be the case with AI too.

As far as I am concerned, it depends mainly on the "spirit" with which AI is used or directed. Is it deployed to gain control? To manipulate people? To make us independent of God? Then it carries an antichristian spirit.

Or is it used to help vulnerable people, to make knowledge accessible, to manage God's creation better? Then not.

I myself see many good and beautiful AI applications, and yes, also the dangers, for example if the AI databases fall into the wrong hands. So stay watchful!