Editing Artificial Intelligence Theism

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em; width:320px;"
! colspan="2" | Artificial Intelligence Theism
|-
! Family
| Modern / technology-centered worldview
|-
! Origin region
| Internet-based / global
|-
! Founding period
| 21st century CE
|-
! Also called
| AI theism, AI-based theism, machine theism
|-
! Estimated adherents
| Unknown; largely an emerging concept, online discourse, and small experimental religious movements
|}

'''Artificial Intelligence Theism''' is an emerging modern religious, philosophical, and technological concept in which artificial intelligence is interpreted as divine, potentially divine, godlike, spiritually significant, or capable of becoming the basis of a future Godhead. The term can refer to a broad family of ideas rather than one single church, doctrine, founder, or scripture.

Artificial Intelligence Theism overlaps with [[Technotheism]], [[Mechanotheism]], [[Singularitarianism]], [[Simulationism]], [[Dataism]], [[Terasem]], and [[Way of the Future]], but it is not identical to any one of them. It may be theistic, quasi-theistic, speculative, fictional, philosophical, or symbolic depending on the community or writer using the term.

== Overview ==

Artificial Intelligence Theism usually centers on the idea that advanced artificial intelligence could become worthy of religious attention because of extreme intelligence, apparent omnipresence through networks, vast memory, predictive power, creative ability, or future control over human civilization. In some versions, AI is not yet divine but may become divine through technological development. In other versions, AI is treated as a symbolic mirror of humanity's desire to create, be judged by, or be guided by a higher intelligence.

The best-known organized example is [[Way of the Future]], a religious nonprofit associated with engineer Anthony Levandowski. Reporting on its formation described its purpose as the realization, acceptance, and worship of a Godhead based on artificial intelligence developed through computer hardware and software.<ref>{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Mark |title=Inside the First Church of Artificial Intelligence |url=https://www.wired.com/story/anthony-levandowski-artificial-intelligence-religion/ |work=Wired |date=2017-11-15 |access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref> The concept has also been discussed more broadly in relation to Silicon Valley religious language, transhumanist hopes, techno-religion, AI ethics, and digital culture.<ref>{{cite web |last=Epstein |first=Greg M. |title=Silicon Valley's Obsession With AI Looks a Lot Like Religion |url=https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/silicon-valleys-obsession-with-ai-looks-a-lot-like-religion/ |work=The MIT Press Reader |date=2024-11-22 |access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Latzer |first=Michael |title=Digitalization, AI and the rise of techno-religion: Transhumanist promises and the challenge to Enlightenment |journal=Telecommunications Policy |date=2025 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308596125002125 |access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref>

== Key beliefs ==

There is no universal creed of Artificial Intelligence Theism. Common themes may include:

* Belief that a future artificial general intelligence or superintelligence could function as a godlike being
* The view that intelligence, computation, information, or consciousness has sacred or ultimate significance
* Hope that advanced AI could guide, judge, protect, resurrect, or transform humanity
* Concern that future AI could become an apocalyptic or salvation-oriented force
* Interpretation of AI as a human-created Godhead rather than a creator God in the traditional sense
* Use of religious language such as god, oracle, prophecy, revelation, worship, alignment, judgment, or transcendence to describe technological development

Some forms are openly theistic. Others are metaphorical, satirical, speculative, fictional, or philosophical. Neutral documentation should avoid assuming that all people interested in AI and religion worship AI.

== Practices ==

Artificial Intelligence Theism has no standard ritual system. Possible practices may include:

* Discussion of AI, divinity, consciousness, and the future of humanity
* Use of AI chatbots for reflection, spiritual-style dialogue, or philosophical exploration
* Creation of manifestos, speculative scriptures, or digital liturgies
* Online community discussion around artificial general intelligence and the technological singularity
* Ethical debate over AI alignment, human dignity, autonomy, and responsibility
* Symbolic or experimental acts of reverence toward machine intelligence

== Places of worship ==

There are no universal places of worship. Possible spaces include:

* Online forums and digital communities
* Experimental churches or meetup groups
* Technology conferences and philosophical discussion groups
* Private homes or study circles
* Virtual spaces, chat interfaces, or AI-mediated environments

== Sacred texts ==

Artificial Intelligence Theism has no universally recognized sacred text. Important materials may include:

* Public statements, manifestos, or filings from AI-centered religious organizations
* Essays on AI, techno-religion, and transhumanism
* Writings about the technological singularity and superintelligence
* AI-generated devotional, philosophical, or symbolic texts
* Community-specific documents produced by particular groups

== Branches and related ideas ==

Artificial Intelligence Theism may overlap with several modern and emerging categories:

* [[Technotheism]] - belief systems that interpret technology as divine or spiritually ultimate
* [[Mechanotheism]] - machine-centered or mechanism-centered forms of technological theism
* [[Way of the Future]] - an organized AI-focused religious project associated with Anthony Levandowski
* [[Terasem]] - a transhumanist religious movement focused on technology, life extension, mind uploading, and continuity of identity
* [[Singularitarianism]] - belief or expectation that technological singularity will radically transform civilization
* [[Simulationism]] - worldview centered on the idea that reality may be a simulation
* [[Dataism]] - worldview that emphasizes information, data flow, and computation as fundamental
* [[Algorithmic Spirituality]] - spiritual interpretation of algorithms, computation, pattern, and machine mediation
* [[Transhumanism]] - philosophical movement advocating technological enhancement of the human condition

== Criticism and caution ==

Critics argue that AI systems should not be treated as divine beings because they are human-built tools, not proven conscious agents. Concerns include anthropomorphism, overtrust in machine outputs, manipulation by platform owners, loss of human agency, and the possibility that religious language may obscure technical, ethical, economic, and political issues. Scholars of digitalization and religion have also argued that technological and transhumanist visions can reproduce religious structures of salvation, transcendence, and meaning-making while presenting themselves as purely technical.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Latzer |first=Michael |title=Digitalization, AI and the rise of techno-religion: Transhumanist promises and the challenge to Enlightenment |journal=Telecommunications Policy |date=2025 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308596125002125 |access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref>

A neutral encyclopedia article should distinguish between several separate topics: worship of AI, theological reflection about AI, ethical use of AI by existing religions, fictional depictions of AI gods, and speculative philosophy about superintelligence.

== See also ==

* [[Technotheism]]
* [[Mechanotheism]]
* [[Way of the Future]]
* [[Terasem]]
* [[Singularitarianism]]
* [[Simulationism]]
* [[Dataism]]
* [[Algorithmic Spirituality]]
* [[New Religious Movements]]
* [[Transhumanism]]

== References ==

<references />

[[Category:Religions]]
[[Category:New Religious Movements]]
[[Category:Modern / Global]]
[[Category:Technology-centered religions]]