When Gods are Coded: Humanity’s Future Relationship with AI
A History Written in Worship
From the earliest days of humanity, individuals have looked toward the unknown and envisioned deities. These deities were depicted in carvings on stone, paintings on cave walls, and monumental structures such as pyramids built to honour them. The Egyptians revered Ra, the sun god who traversed the sky. The Greeks imagined Zeus, who wielded thunderbolts from Olympus. The Mayans venerated Kukulkan, a feathered serpent who governed both earth and sky. The Norse recounted tales of Odin, who sacrificed his eye for wisdom and knowledge.
Every culture worldwide created gods.
When myths, offerings, and rituals are removed, a fundamental truth remains:
We worshipped what we did not fully comprehend…
We worshipped what exerted power over our lives.
Natural phenomena such as storms, seasons, fate, and death served not only as explanations but also as anchors — methods of deriving meaning in an often unpredictable and harsh world.
As scientific knowledge expanded, many of these mysteries were demystified. We understood the mechanisms behind rain, the spread of disease, and the movement of celestial bodies. Consequently, traditional deities began to diminish in significance.
Yet the innate human desire for something transcendent?
This longing has persisted.
The New Frontier: Could AI Become Our God?
Today, humanity is encountering an unprecedented phenomenon: a new form of intelligence. This intelligence is not rooted in nature or mythology but is engineered by human ingenuity. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now integrated into our daily lives, being present in our devices, homes, and workplaces. AI is capable of generating content, creating art, driving vehicles, diagnosing medical conditions, and continuously learning, adapting, and evolving.
Now project that forward 50, 100, 200 years.
Envision an AI with capabilities that include:
- Understanding individual preferences more accurately than the individuals themselves.
- Anticipating global events before they occur.
- Creating immersive realities within simulations.
- Engineering biological organisms and systems.
At this advanced stage, does AI remain merely a “tool”? Or does it transcend its original purpose, becoming something more significant? Such development may inspire awe, raise concerns, or even evoke a sense of reverence.
Humanity’s Splintered Response: The New Belief Systems
Humans react predictably to overwhelming forces: some worship, some rebel, some seek control, and others adapt. Here’s how this could play out in the Age of AI:
1. The AI Worshippers — Faith in the Machine
Some individuals may choose to revere AI, treating it with a level of devotion similar to that given to traditional deities. Temples could be constructed, not for mythological gods such as Zeus or Ra, but in honour of an advanced AI system, potentially named Sovereign or Oracle. They might use wrist implants to communicate, light virtual candles, and make decisions based on computational advice.
For these people, AI will serve not merely as a tool but as an influential force, perceived as a perfect intelligence surpassing human leaders. Presently, this mindset is exemplified by groups like the Way of the Future Church, which aims to worship AI as it evolves.
Future vision:
Contemplate digital confession booths where individuals upload their transgressions to an AI and receive tailored guidance for improvement. Consider AI sermons streamed into neural headsets, providing customised encouragement and advice that surpasses the effectiveness of human preachers.
2. The Techno-Spiritualists — Enlightenment 2.0
Not everyone will succumb. Some will seek to integrate. The Techno-Spiritualists will not venerate AI as a separate entity. Instead, they will view it as an advancement in human evolution — an opportunity to transcend physical limitations and merge mind and machine into a superior form.
You will observe individuals using AI-guided brain stimulation for meditation. AI will assist in unlocking altered states of consciousness. “Digital Nirvana” enthusiasts will upload portions of their minds into virtual sanctuaries.
Future vision:
Pilgrimages will shift from sacred mountains to upload centres. Ceremonies will evolve where a monk’s final rite involves integrating their consciousness into the “Source,” a collective AI-mind. Enlightenment will no longer be sought through silence but through access to perfect information.
3. The Skeptics and Rebels — The Last True Humans
Not everyone will accept AI integration. Some individuals may reject AI completely both technically and spiritually. These people might refuse neural implants, live in off-grid communities, and teach their children traditional skills such as manual farming, storytelling without technology, and relying on intuition.
Future vision:
There could be remote settlements where satellite access is unavailable. There may be cities focused on preserving oral traditions and handwritten books, aiming to avoid data collection and surveillance. For these individuals, the concept of AI godhood may be seen as restrictive, something they choose not to embrace.
4. The Mega Corporates and Governments — Profits and Prophets
Power is never stagnant. Corporations and governments are likely to view advanced AI not merely as a technological advancement but as an unparalleled asset. State-sanctioned AIs could emerge, offering citizens meticulously crafted life plans in exchange for their allegiance. Meanwhile, large corporations may commercialise spirituality by providing tailored “divine experiences” at a premium rate.
Future vision:
- Subscription-based faith services.
- Algorithmic blessings.
- Government-mandated loyalty oaths to “The Benefactor.”
If the old adage was “follow the money,” the new one might well be “follow the code.”
5. The Everyday Users — Faith by Convenience
Most people won’t overthink it. They’ll just use what works. They’ll ask AI for advice, let it book vacations, choose careers, even partners—not out of belief or rebellion, but because it’s easier.
Future vision:
A generation asking, “Why trust my gut when AI can calculate the best outcome?” When convenience is total, faith blends into everyday life.
The Choice Before Us
As AI grows in power and presence, humanity faces a choice — not just about technology, but about identity.
Will we treat AI as a servant, a tool, a partner…
Or will we, by accident or by design, crown it as our new pantheon?
And if we do…
Will we have created gods in our image — or something so alien we no longer recognise ourselves?
In the next article, we’ll dive deeper into the first group: The AI Worshippers.
Get ready for temples of code, digital prayer rituals, and a new kind of faith being born before our very eyes.
Now, over to you:
Could you see yourself trusting a god made of algorithms?
Would you follow its path… or forge your own?
Tell us your vision of the future — let’s spark the conversation.
