AI's 'Magical Intelligence in Heaven': Scholar Links AI Discourse to Religion
Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
Interview
Named sources
Outcome reported
- Religionswissenschaftlerin Inken Prohl sees societal perceptions of AI as driven by fear and fascination, emotions typically associated with religion.
- Prohl points to statements from AI pioneers, like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman referring to Artificial General Intelligence as 'magical intelligence in heaven,' as evidence of religious language surrounding AI.
- Her work involves identifying, analyzing, and contextualizing this religious language in discussions about artificial intelligence.
Religionswissenschaftlerin Inken Prohl suggests that the societal discourse surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) is deeply intertwined with religious sentiment, characterized by a blend of fear and fascination.
Prohl identifies these emotions as typical responses to religious phenomena. She further notes that the language used by some AI pioneers, such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's description of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) as "magical intelligence in heaven," strongly echoes religious terminology.
The societal perception of AI seems to me essentially shaped by fear and fascination, two emotional states that are typical of religions.
Her academic work focuses on recognizing, analyzing, and understanding the religious undertones present in discussions about AI, aiming to contextualize these observations within broader societal and cultural frameworks.
Even more clearly, the connection becomes apparent in the statements of some AI pioneers. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, described the next planned development stage of AI – Artificial General Intelligence – as 'magical intelligence in heaven.' Identifying, analyzing, and classifying such religious language is my profession.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
