DOI: 10.18848/1832-3669/cgp/a1037 ISSN: 2835-0391

Artificial Ascendancy

Benlin Anand, Kavitha Nair L., Argha Basu
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<p>The contemporary theological concept of God has evolved from a purely supernatural being into an entity that dynamically intersects with the laws of nature and technological imagination. Fictional narratives contribute significantly to this discussion by providing alternative conceptual interpretations of divinity and transcendence. From the perspective of speculative fiction, the television series <em>Person of Interest</em>, created by Jonathan Nolan, explores the idea of contemporary artificial intelligence (AI), paralleling the attributes of a divine entity. This research examines how the AI systems, “The Machine” and “Samaritan,” originally designed to predict and avert terrorist activities, evolve to resemble divine authorities. This aligns with the traditional attributes of God established in classical theism. Classical theism derives its fundamental frameworks from ancient and medieval philosophy, including the Platonic, Aristotelian, and Neoplatonic traditions, which portray a perfect, self-existent, and immutable deity. By analyzing the potential consequences of their technological evolution, this article speculates on the progression of AI toward artificial divinity, where engineered agents symbolically assume the roles of traditional gods. Consequently, this study prompts critical reflection on the ensuing ethical and philosophical implications.</p>

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