Key Takeaways:
- Technology gurus have differing opinions on the potential of AI, government power, and humanity’s future.
- Some experts, like Peter Thiel, believe that AI is the best way to fight against potential tyranny, while others, like Elon Musk, worry about the risks of AI going rogue.
- The development of AI raises important questions about the balance between technological advancement and individual liberty.
- Reading old books and understanding the human condition can provide valuable perspective on the dangers of techno-tyranny and the importance of humility.
- The Bible offers a unique perspective on the dangers of hubris and the importance of hope in the face of uncertainty.
Introduction to the Debate
Technology gurus differ when it comes to the potential of AI, government power, and humanity’s future. Some, like Noah Yuval Harari, are all-in, embracing the promises of youth, peace, and prosperity. Others are more measured, like Elon Musk, who looks forward to the day people can "download" their minds into robots but also worries that AI could "go rogue." Peter Thiel is one of the more interesting cases, having reintroduced the word "antichrist" into popular conversations when warning of AI’s capabilities, while also believing that AI is the best way to fight against that monster.
The Theological Perspective
In an interview with Peter Robinson of the Hoover Institution, Thiel suggested that only fear of chaos like war, famine, or disease—what he calls Armageddon—could lead otherwise freethinking people to give up their liberty to a strongman (the antichrist) who promised them safety. A more recent article in First Things, co-authored by Thiel and Sam Wolfe, argued that, when faced with picking the lesser of two evils, one should choose neither. Instead, they suggest praying for new miracles, new technologies, and strange new possibilities. This perspective highlights the importance of considering the potential risks and consequences of emerging technologies like AI.
The Dangers of Hubris
However, Thiel’s thinking hasn’t stopped at merely considering what might be the source of our collective doom. He believes that the only way to fight a world-embracing oppressive regime is to push the development of the very artificial intelligence that might make such tyranny possible. This approach raises concerns about the dangers of hubris, where individuals become so confident in their own abilities that they overlook the potential risks and consequences of their actions. The Greeks had a word for this kind of self-assurance that blinds: hubris. C.S. Lewis identified the modern version of hubris as "chronological snobbery," where individuals believe that they are superior to those who came before them simply because they are living in the present.
The Importance of Perspective
To avoid the dangers of hubris, it is essential to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books. Not, of course, that there is any magic about the past; people were no cleverer then than they are now; they made as many mistakes as we. But not the same mistakes. Recently, author and professor Andrew Snyder offered an updated version of this recommendation, suggesting that reading old books like J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fall of Númenor and C.S. Lewis’ That Hideous Strength can provide valuable insights into the human condition and the dangers of techno-tyranny.
The Need for Humility
In the face of such dire warnings about the future, the advice to "read old books" seems quaint. However, we need to be reminded by Tolkien how even the best of us is tempted by power. We need to hear again from Lewis how the danger of oppression often comes from appeals to advancement. We’ll need more than just old books, of course, if we are to resist the dangers of techno-tyranny, but we won’t make it without the perspective they provide. We need to know the truth about the human condition. We need to be clear about the temptations of hubris, and the appeal to safety. We need to be reminded that using the weapons of the enemy rarely ends well.
The Role of Faith
And speaking of old books, there is no more helpful one than the Bible, which warns of hubris and reminds us that history is not ultimately in our hands. From that old Book, there is hope, grounded in the person and work of Christ. That hope is the real antidote to both hubris and despair. In a world where technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, it is essential to approach these developments with humility and a deep understanding of the human condition. By reading old books, seeking perspective, and embracing humility, we can navigate the complexities of the modern world and avoid the dangers of techno-tyranny.
