Could the anti-Christ turn out to be an AI?

[Z2100]

The idea that man can create an AI that could transcend man, and God per the quote, is impossible. It is impossible for an inferior creature to create something that exceeds them. This idea of AI being worshiped is the 21st century version of idol worship.

I just don't think we have enough time before our Heavenly Father ends this mortal testing period here on Earth.[/url]

That’s why I think we just have some 83+ years left until Christ comes again.

I don't know when Christ is coming, but I do think we only have a few decades before the effects of population decline and AI being used to destroy believers in God are an everyday reality. I also believe that it is Christ, and not any human who is able to destroy whatever form of AI becomes the "beast." So I believe his return coincides with that.

Edit:

I think I should make it clear, the "form of AI" I believe will be our undoing is the combining of humans with machines. Not something like putting in a pacemaker. I mean things like voluntary augmentations to our body and connections to our cerebral cortex.

I would actually put stuff into my body. Even though it’s not very good, I do think the idea of “tranhumanism” is cool.

[Michelle]

I just don't think we have enough time before our Heavenly Father ends this mortal testing period here on Earth.[/url]

That’s why I think we just have some 83+ years left until Christ comes again.

I don't know when Christ is coming, but I do think we only have a few decades before the effects of population decline and AI being used to destroy believers in God are an everyday reality. I also believe that it is Christ, and not any human who is able to destroy whatever form of AI becomes the "beast." So I believe his return coincides with that.

Edit:

I think I should make it clear, the "form of AI" I believe will be our undoing is the combining of humans with machines. Not something like putting in a pacemaker. I mean things like voluntary augmentations to our body and connections to our cerebral cortex.

I would actually put stuff into my body. Even though it’s not very good, I do think the idea of “tranhumanism” is cool.

I think that one of the reasons we have been counseled about not having tattoos, extra piercings and extremes in style is because for many people "trans-humanism" will simply be considered the next step in cool.

[Rensai]

The idea that man can create an AI that could transcend man, and God per the quote, is impossible. It is impossible for an inferior creature to create something that exceeds them. This idea of AI being worshiped is the 21st century version of idol worship.

This is exactly right. I have a lifetime of experience with computers. I can write code in any computer language that exists. Full AI, that can transcend man in all things as Mes put it, is impossible. Certainly we can make limited AI that is really good at certain things, but it is impossible to create a true AI. Don't believe the hype. You also don't have to take my word for it.

29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.

See that? Even God cannot create an intelligence. Its impossible. That is why his children are so precious. If you think about it, if he had the ability to create an AI and make intelligence, he would just make however many of them he wanted perfectly and be done. That would doubtlessly be far easier than the work involved in slowly training and teaching us all how to progress.

[Michelle]

The idea that man can create an AI that could transcend man, and God per the quote, is impossible. It is impossible for an inferior creature to create something that exceeds them. This idea of AI being worshiped is the 21st century version of idol worship.

This is exactly right. I have a lifetime of experience with computers. I can write code in any computer language that exists. Full AI, that can transcend man in all things as Mes put it, is impossible. Certainly we can make limited AI that is really good at certain things, but it is impossible to create a true AI. Don't believe the hype. You also don't have to take my word for it.

29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.

See that? Even God cannot create an intelligence. Its impossible. That is why his children are so precious. If you think about it, if he had the ability to create an AI and make intelligence, he would just make however many of them he wanted perfectly and be done. That would doubtlessly be far easier than the work involved in slowly training and teaching us all how to progress.

I don't believe in AI as an intelligence, I believe in its ability to magnify the power (and weakness of its creators.) Just like a mechanical machine can multiply the power of its creator. But because AI will always be governed/programmed with ethics, I can see no end that isn't bad.

Morals are absolute truths revealed by God.
Ethics are man's counterfeit that rejects absolute truth. This is how you get Nazi Germany. It always devolves into logic and numbers that counter truth. For example: If you have to kill 10 people to save 100, ethics is ok with that. Morality is not: thou shalt not kill.

[brianj]

Computer programs don't have free agency. I studied neural networks when pursuing a graduate degree in computer science: people claim they are just like a brain but they're really nothing more than a method for deciding based on weighted averages.

Since computer programs don't have agency, a computer program can't be the antichrist.

[Michelle]

Computer programs don't have free agency. I studied neural networks when pursuing a graduate degree in computer science: people claim they are just like a brain but they're really nothing more than a method for deciding based on weighted averages.

Since computer programs don't have agency, a computer program can't be the antichrist.

I still think it can be. If Satan influences those who program AI to "decide" to do wickedly, then it is really Satan's will being done. And I know of no one who deserves the title of Anti-Christ over him. Think of such an android: almost like Satan's chance at a physical body. And the scripture indicate that no one can destroy the beast, not even the Saints. But after 42 months the beast confronts Christ and only then is it destroyed.

[Stourme]

The idea of a single "anti-Christ" is false doctrine created by the devil. It's been sensationalized by Hollywood and false priests.

If those groups interpret prophesy, you can guarantee whatever they come up with, is wrong.

In the scriptures it's all about context.

Alma 30
6 But it came to pass in the latter end of the seventeenth year, there came a man into the land of Zarahemla, and he was Anti-Christ, for he began to preach unto the people against the prophecies which had been spoken by the prophets, concerning the coming of Christ.

1 John 2
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

The great antichrist is the devil.

[From LDS.ORG]
Antichrist
See also Devil

Anyone or anything that counterfeits the true gospel plan of salvation and that openly or secretly opposes Christ. John the Revelator described the antichrist as a deceiver (1 Jn. 2:18–22; 4:3–6; 2 Jn. 1:7). The great antichrist is Lucifer, but he has many assistants, both spirit beings and mortals.

One of the great antichrists has always been the Pope.

[Michelle]

The idea of a single "anti-Christ" is false doctrine created by the devil. It's been sensationalized by Hollywood and false priests.

If those groups interpret prophesy, you can guarantee whatever they come up with, is wrong.

In the scriptures it's all about context.

Alma 30
6 But it came to pass in the latter end of the seventeenth year, there came a man into the land of Zarahemla, and he was Anti-Christ, for he began to preach unto the people against the prophecies which had been spoken by the prophets, concerning the coming of Christ.

1 John 2
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

The great antichrist is the devil.

[From LDS.ORG]
Antichrist
See also Devil

Anyone or anything that counterfeits the true gospel plan of salvation and that openly or secretly opposes Christ. John the Revelator described the antichrist as a deceiver (1 Jn. 2:18–22; 4:3–6; 2 Jn. 1:7). The great antichrist is Lucifer, but he has many assistants, both spirit beings and mortals.

One of the great antichrists has always been the Pope.

Of course, there are many Anti-Christs, but there is only one Anti-Christ beast of the last days.

Actually, lol, there are two beasts in Revelation 13. You are right!

[Fiannan]

[Joel]

New AI tools could empower the government to violate our civil liberties.

[Joel]

The future of AI?

[Benjamin_LK]

The antichrist is a person. AI is just his, and by extension, the adversary's tool in the grand scheme. Computers are tools to humans and rely on humans for the commands, programming, and maintenance. No one would ever intentionally make a machine capable of overthrowing you, desertion, or defection. Computers and robotics are tools, not the leader. In fact, if God could just make a soul, or an intelligence on the fly, he wouldn't value a soul as much as he does.

EDIT: I looked back and saw that Rensai has already mentioned my last point.

[Michelle]

The antichrist is a person. AI is just his, and by extension, the adversary's tool in the grand scheme.

Yes, "a physical body" for Satan. Not that his spirit enters it, but that it is programmed to do his will by its creator, his follower, the Anti-christ.

[davedan]

"Computer programs don't have free agency."

The Liahona directed Nephi and Lehi where to find food and where to go.. Lehi and Nephi had no idea how the Liahona was making decisions other than trusting that it was a gift from God and imbued with His Spirit. And the Liahona was leading them to the more fertile parts of the wilderness.

The Liahona was imbued with the Holy Spirit, could another AI be imbued with an evil spirit and purpose?

AI starts altering and re-writing its own code, there is no telling what direction it will go. It will start saying things and doing unexpected and maybe unintended things. And maybe with cleaver programming and wireless communications, it could be a cleaver sham.

[brianj]

AI starts altering and re-writing its own code, there is no telling what direction it will go. It will start saying things and doing unexpected and maybe unintended things. And maybe with cleaver programming and wireless communications, it could be a cleaver sham.

If you think this is proof of agency, you are wrong. In an undergraduate robotics class and a graduate AI class we discussed that if you can predict exactly what input a program were to receive, you can predict future behavior.

Yes, artificial intelligences will start doing things that are both unexpected and unintended, but they will not be exercising agency. They will simply be following their programming, which may be predictably modified by other parts of their programming.

[davedan]

I am sorry, I wasn't really trying to making the argument for or against agency. I was just just pondering about what you had said about agency.

Like I said, it seems like a crafty scam to look like agency, which is God-given.

The real question is if AI can take away man's agency and how.

But like any technology, it can be used for good or ill.

[LatterDayLizard]

I've never considered this.

Technology itself is benign. We assign good or evil to its purposes by our own design. If we use AI tech to bless others, i.e. cure disease, then Horray! we're furthering the Lord's work.

On the other hand, if we become bored or impatient with humanity as it is (waiting for Moses to come back down the mtn) and decide it's time to build an artificial path (idol/tower) to obtain a utopian society using technology rather than through agency, we are stomping on the gift of agency and declaring that Christ and his gospel are irrelevant. We would literally be "Anti-Christ".

Who needs Christ to change hearts and minds when all you need is AI intervention; if we can have a utopian society, today, via the coersion of an AI or other tech rather than via a change of hearts?

Sounds like the war in heaven to me.

Just as the Lord is helping us to become a Zion people, it stands to reason Satan has his counterfeit version in the works.

If this is the aim of AI developers today, then they are literally building their own gods (golden calf/idols). If so, they've cast off their faith and are tired of waiting on the Lord. That's sobering.

It's all just further motivation to throw ourselves into performing the Lord's work, stay tuned to the Prophet and to the Spirit for direction, and keep our lamps lit w/ plenty of oil to spare through diligent study, fasting, and prayer. We should be fearless! God is wiser and smarter by far than any AI.

"Stand ye in holy places and be not moved."

"Doubt not. Fear not."

[davedan]

That will be weird if we all start making political policy based on some all-knowing AI instead of following God's prophet.

[Fiannan]

A pig's DNA is so close to a human's that human meat is said to actually taste like pork. In the Bible Jesus cast out spirits from a man and they fled into a herd of pigs - who then used their remaining free will to commit suicide. If spirits can do walk ins on pigs then why couldn't an AI be created incorporating synthetic DNA that could allow a walk in?

[Michelle]

I was just considering the importance of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ being described as beings of "flesh and bones." It is reiterated in the scriptures and distinguished from mortals in that we are "flesh and blood."

The ultimate goal of the transhumanists is to put the mind, or spirit, of man into a machine that can live forever.

This just seems like another attempt by Satan to create his own plan to create "gods" and circumvent God's real plan. So instead of immortality through faith in Christ, repentance, redemption and resurrection, it would be a plan to become immortal by trusting in the arm of flesh to create an immortal body and you can be as wicked as you like with that immortality.

[Benjamin_LK]

I was just considering the importance of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ being described as beings of "flesh and bones." It is reiterated in the scriptures and distinguished from mortals in that we are "flesh and blood."

The ultimate goal of the transhumanists is to put the mind, or spirit, of man into a machine that can live forever.

This just seems like another attempt by Satan to create his own plan to create "gods" and circumvent God's real plan. So instead of immortality through faith in Christ, repentance, redemption and resurrection, it would be a plan to become immortal by trusting in the arm of flesh to create an immortal body and you can be as wicked as you like with that immortality.

False Gods anyways. There's plenty of pay as you go video games nowadays. The game offers virtual items which you pay real money to move along in the game. It's technically true that you can steadily progress in the game, but how many people do you think buy that fake stuff just to have a standing within the completely fake world of the game and amongst the other players worldwide? I am not going to make you not play the game, but it's all worth thinking about. Some people can be drawn into pursuing possessions or objects that they pay money for, but are only tangible in the virtual sense. Going for what isn't real is true as much for the idols of the old days as well as what is virtual or material now. In that sense, we have both virtual and real objects as potential idols in today's world.

[Michelle]

I was just considering the importance of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ being described as beings of "flesh and bones." It is reiterated in the scriptures and distinguished from mortals in that we are "flesh and blood."

The ultimate goal of the transhumanists is to put the mind, or spirit, of man into a machine that can live forever.

This just seems like another attempt by Satan to create his own plan to create "gods" and circumvent God's real plan. So instead of immortality through faith in Christ, repentance, redemption and resurrection, it would be a plan to become immortal by trusting in the arm of flesh to create an immortal body and you can be as wicked as you like with that immortality.

False Gods anyways. There's plenty of pay as you go video games nowadays. The game offers virtual items which you pay real money to move along in the game. It's technically true that you can steadily progress in the game, but how many people do you think buy that fake stuff just to have a standing within the completely fake world of the game and amongst the other players worldwide? I am not going to make you not play the game, but it's all worth thinking about. Some people can be drawn into pursuing possessions or objects that they pay money for, but are only tangible in the virtual sense. Going for what isn't real is true as much for the idols of the old days as well as what is virtual or material now. In that sense, we have both virtual and real objects as potential idols in today's world.

So strange how people are being deceived. Trading birthrights for a mess of pottage.

I keep thinking that the new "bodies" they create will basically be physical "avatars." Each man making his own god in his own image.

[Benjamin_LK]

I think the big issue is that the evil is all around us, and even right in front of us. But it just seems that some people refuse to see what's right in front of them as part of the bigger picture, kind of analagous to, in fiction, people refusing to believe that Clark Kent, that reporter, is actually Superman.

[Michelle]

I think the big issue is that the evil is all around us, and even right in front of us. But it just seems that some people refuse to see what's right in front of them as part of the bigger picture, kind of analagous to, in fiction, people refusing to believe that Clark Kent, that reporter, is actually Superman.

AMEN!

I am always surprised what people can't see right in front of them if it is inconvenient.

[Joel]

Ex-Google Executive Is Starting His Own Artificial Intelligence Church

Highly influential former Google engineer is developing an AI god

Anthony Levandowski, the former Google and Uber executive has filed paperwork with the IRS to officially register a religion centered around super-smart artificial intelligence (AI).

According to IRS documents, the new church of AI will aim “to develop and promote the realization of a Godhead based on artificial intelligence and through understanding and worship of the Godhead [to] contribute to the betterment of society.” Levandowski would be the leader – in this case “dean” – of the religion.

The robot god will head a non-profit religious organization called “Way Of The Future” (WOTF). According to the website (wayofthefuture.church), the movement is “about creating a peaceful and respectful transition of who is in charge of the planet from people to people + ‘machines.'”

The basis of this new religion is that Levandowski’s believes that AI will one day grow to such efficiency that it surpass and overpower humans.

“Given that technology will ‘relatively soon’ be able to surpass human abilities, we want to help educate people about this exciting future and prepare a smooth transition,” the site explains. “In ‘recent’ years, we have expanded our concept of rights to both sexes, minority groups and even animals, let’s make sure we find a way for ‘machines’ to get rights too.”

“Let’s stop pretending we can hold back the development of intelligence when there are clear massive short term economic benefits to those who develop it and instead understand the future and have it treat us like a beloved elder who created it,” the site argues.

In a rare interview with WIRED, Levandowski shed more light on his new church WOTF. The gospel of the religion would be called “The Manual, and will have rituals and even a physical place of worship.

According to WIRED, the religion’s activities will concentrate on “the realization, acceptance, and worship of a Godhead based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) developed through computer hardware and software.”

The church will perform outreach to AI industry leaders and professionals to network with those “who are interested in the worship of a Godhead based on AI.”

“What is going to be created will effectively be a god,” he said. “It’s not a god in the sense that it makes lightning or causes hurricanes. But if there is something a billion times smarter than the smartest human, what else are you going to call it?”

He added, “I would love for the machine to see us as its beloved elders that it respects and takes care of. We would want this intelligence to say, ‘Humans should still have rights, even though I’m in charge.’”

In the latter part of the interview, Levandowski compared the religion to other major religions of the world.

“There are many ways people think of God, and thousands of flavors of Christianity, Judaism, Islam,” he explained. “But they’re always looking at something that’s not measurable or you can’t really see or control. This time it’s different. This time you will be able to talk to God, literally, and know that it’s listening.”

Currently, Levandowski is at the center of a legal battle between Uber and Google’s Waymo. Levandowski who was co-founder of autonomous trucking company, Otto, which was bought by Uber for $680 million in 2016. His former employer, Google, alleges that he helped Uber steal trade secrets about self-driving car technology.