cross-posted from: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/46082903

In fairness, the argument that AI is a cult/false religion/false god has been made many times before, however I believe that AI and the AI community most closely aligns with a cult, and here’s why:

Indoctrination techniques:

Generally, techniques that indoctrinate users into the cult tend to follow similar trends, which are notable in many of the AI models having similar effects on the users who subsequently become frequent users of the technology. Broken down, I’d say it’s something like this:

-Innocuous beginnings: Cults are notorious for beginning the indoctrination process with something simple and seemingly harmless on the surface (I.e. conferences, videos, films, games, etc.) these are all real techniques that various cults have used in the past, to somewhat success. Likewise, AI chatbots, image and video generators present just this: an invitation to engage with something fun and seemingly harmless, something that engages the audience and draws their attention.

-Love bombing: Perhaps the most notorious hook of cults is love bombing — giving heaps of praise and complements to the joining members. Likewise, AI chatbots constantly tell you how good your point is or how you’re always on the right track (“you’ve hit the nail on the head”, “that is an amazing point” are but a few I have read of Gemini) This is undoubtedly a form of love bombing.

-Promise of more: Cults often work by enticing their audience with something good, but promising something great (something better) later. Likewise, AI tech companies are always promising more, more, more if you subscribe/follow their work. What better reward for AI users can there be but the promise of bigger and better AI? This is exactly how both cults and AI operate.

Beyond the indoctrination similarities, there are also many, many peripheral similarities (by which I mean subtle, not less important similarities) which include:

-reach and scope: historical cults have often managed to expand their reach across multiple countries around the world. Need I explain how this is similar to the reach and scope of AI?

-withholding/hiding information

-leaders who turn out to be crooks/criminals

-leaders who amass fortunes

And many more.

What do you think? Are the similarities superficial, or could AI actually be a worldwide cult hidden in plain sight?

    • aeiou@piefed.socialEnglish
      2·
      3 hours ago

      Heh. A bit random I guess, but it’s from the old video game Deus Ex.

      In it, an AI owned by one of a cabal of billionaires quips about itself being built essentially from the data of decades of unchecked surveillance, among other topics. A more advanced version is used to control global communication, an AI ‘god’ to tip the scales in favor of the cabal and it’s aims by influencing the narrative in the background.

      The post topic here reminded me of the game as well as some conspiracy theories I’d run across were people like Thiel are trying to build something similar to quietly push their brand of religion onto the world - an AI Cult in a literal sense.

      “The human organism always worships. First it was the gods, then it was fame (the observation and judgment of others), next it will be the self-aware systems you have built to realize truly omnipresent observation and judgment.”