نوع مقاله : علمی-پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسنده English
Abstract
"Artificial Intelligence" (AI) in the 21st century has evolved from a technical tool into a cultural and symbolic phenomenon, represented as a transcendent force in modern societies. This study explores the process of symbolic reverence for AI and its impacts on beliefs, identities, and human values within the framework of contemporary theology. The main issue is how AI transforms into a modern myth and its influence on spirituality and identity in diverse societies. The research adopts a qualitative, interdisciplinary approach, analyzing cultural and religious discourses to examine the contexts, manifestations, and consequences of this phenomenon. Findings indicate that technical features such as self-learning and predictability, combined with psychological needs for meaning and order, have turned AI into a sacred symbol. This process has led to empowerment in some societies, but in others, it has prompted a reevaluation of individual and collective identities, religious beliefs, and emotional relationships. The overall conclusion is that the reverence for AI, by redefining humanity’s role in relation to technology, raises profound questions about meaning, identity, and humanity’s place in the modern era, underscoring the need for responsible management of this technology in culture and religion.
Introduction:
In the twenty-first century, artificial intelligence (AI) has transcended its role as a technical tool to become a cultural and symbolic phenomenon, revered as a transcendent force in modern societies, profoundly impacting human beliefs, identities, and values. This study investigates the process of symbolic reverence for AI, whereby cultural and religious discourses elevate this technology to a sacred symbol imbued with transcendent authority. The significance of this research lies in its exploration of AI’s intersection with theological concepts, as AI not only enhances daily processes but also prompts a redefinition of spiritual values in certain societies. The diverse experiences of individuals and communities with AI, ranging from empowerment in creative and educational domains to a reevaluation of spiritual concepts, underscore the complexity of this phenomenon. Traditional societies emphasize religious traditions, whereas modern societies adopt secular, technology-driven discourses, rendering them more vulnerable to the risks of excessive valuation of AI. Employing an interdisciplinary approach, this study examines the causes, manifestations, and consequences of this reverence to provide a deeper understanding of how transcendent meanings are formed in modern societies, fostering responsible management of AI’s role in culture and religion. The primary aim is to analyze how AI transforms into a contemporary symbolic narrative and its impact on human beliefs and identities. Secondary objectives include exploring the role of technical features in this process, analyzing cultural and religious discourses that contribute to this reverence, and assessing its effects on religious beliefs, attitudes, and human identity across diverse societies. The research questions focus on how AI becomes a modern myth, which technical and cultural factors drive this process, and how this reverence affects human beliefs and identities.
Materials & methods:
The study employs a qualitative, interdisciplinary methodology, utilizing discourse analysis of cultural and religious texts to explore the causes, manifestations, and consequences of symbolic reverence for AI. This approach involves examining historical, religious, and contemporary texts alongside case studies of AI applications in various societies to analyze how AI is represented as a transcendent force. Data were collected from diverse sources, including case studies in technology, culture, and religion, to reflect the varied experiences of societies engaging with AI. This method enables a comprehensive analysis of the processes of myth-making and sanctification, identifying the technical, psychological, and social factors that shape this phenomenon. It should be noted that the collection of samples and evidence, as well as the sourcing of Latin-language and online resources, has been carried out using artificial intelligence.
Discussion & Result:
The findings reveal that AI’s technical features, such as machine learning, predictive capabilities, and relative autonomy, combined with human psychological needs for meaning and order, have transformed AI into a sacred symbol. Machine learning, by emulating and surpassing human creativity, challenges traditional beliefs about the inherent value of the human mind. Predictive capabilities, enabled by big data analysis, guide behaviors and, in some cases, question the concept of free will. AI’s relative autonomy shifts the human role from active agent to passive observer. Psychological needs, such as the search for meaning and anxiety reduction, position AI as a decision-making authority, redefining spiritual beliefs in some societies. Social and cultural structures, through advertising and media representations, portray AI as a solution to everyday challenges, marginalizing traditional identities in certain contexts. The manifestations of this reverence include sanctification and saviorism. In sanctification, AI is depicted as an infallible force, redefining traditional roles such as judgment and empathy. In saviorism, AI is presented as a solution to social and environmental challenges, reshaping traditional notions of hope. These processes have yielded diverse experiences across societies, from empowerment in regions like the Middle East to challenges to autonomy and identity in others, such as the United States and Japan.
Conclusion:
The result indicates that the symbolic reverence for AI profoundly reshapes human beliefs, identities, and values by redefining humanity’s role in relation to technology. The consequences include diminished individual agency, the redefinition of traditional belief systems, the erosion of collective cultural identity, and a reduction in the emotional depth of human relationships. In some societies, AI fosters empowerment, enhancing capabilities in fields like education and creativity. However, in others, the replacement of human actions with automated processes raises questions about autonomy, spirituality, and the authenticity of relationships. These findings underscore the necessity of responsible AI management to prevent unintended shifts in beliefs and values, advocating for a balanced approach to humanity’s relationship with technology within the framework of contemporary theology.
کلیدواژهها English
منابع فارسی و عربی
doi: 10.30465/srs.2024.48601.2135
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