Peter Thiel Wants Everyone to Think More About the Antichrist
Nothing original to write here--- other than the surprising "theological turn" in Big Tech (Not surprising, perhaps, if you read your Vico and apply it to the rise of the meme-scape!). Evidently, we even see Elon quoting Scripture on X? That raised my eyebrows!
What is worth mentioning, however, is the obvious--- so obvious, in fact, that nobody has raised this question in the comments:
What does it mean to talk of the "Antichrist" in a world that is increasingly ignorant of Christ? Is it not like speaking of Atheism without mention of God? How does that make sense? [Personally, I believe this is why the author of this Wall Street Journal article kept on speaking of the "apocalypse" as the end of the world because the author didn't quite understand Revelation. In her defense, I think few do (myself excluded). It's a difficult book.).
If Thiel's prognostication is correct (and here it does remind one of Pope Leo's own concerns about A.I.), then the question of who the Antichrist will be should not be focused on any individual per se. For one, we are not sure if the prophecies were fulfilled yet or not. Or, whether St. John believed (as many scholars believe) that the Antichrist was the Roman Empire of his own day. For Catholics, it is mostly speculative, but we also hold that the Antichrist is also a type-- not so much a unique historical person. I mean, at bare minimum, the emphasis on how to frame this discussion is not confined strictly speaking to just one individual. It can be--- and has been- analogically extended towards many.
So, let us turn to A.I. and the Antichrist:
In mockery of the Trinity (and every formality the Evil One indulges in is a mockery of the Trinity), it may perhaps make more sense to think of A.I. as a collective intelligence whose own ersatz "personality" is not a unity in distinction of persons (as is the Trinity), but rather a Hydra-like disunity with many articulated independent eyes (Revelation 13: 1-10) with a kind of metabolism for metabolism's sake that constantly absorbs the infinite nuances of the Present-- moment by moment-- such that it wishes the Present away along with the Past.
We are told by Aquinas (and many others) that there is no actual infinity *in this world* (Aquinas 101 - Summa). But there is potential infinity which resembles a "disembodied" algorithm that does not sleep or eat but continues to dissect and reassemble quantities upon quantities of information until the consummation of the world [provided, of course, the maintenance of physical infrastructure to support its computations!].
For those who do not know their infinities (and yes, there are many kinds), then A.I. could resemble a god of sorts: It's powerful (but to an extent). It endures (but upon real world conditions). It can prognosticate (but based upon the reliability of trend lines). But it is neither immortal, nor spiritual. It can be destroyed for the simple fact that it was made. It thus resembles a god-- not the Almighty.
In contrast to God's eternity then, this mock Demiurge of the Information Age will constantly "evolve" in real time but towards no Telos. Unlike God, it is neither simple nor unchanging. It is complex and changes by its very design! It will direct us always forward in time but without a defined purpose other than constant expectation of an undefined Something. It is an "Antichrist" in so far as it directs our hope away from Christ's promises towards the manifestation of our own desires in relation to this world.
Because it acknowledges no constraint outside of human desire, which changes with fortune, it stands as an anti-telos --- against the idea of a predetermined end (which is the fullest manifestation of the Secular ideal). If an end goal is provisional, contingent, and always changing, then it is not truly a predetermined end but one that is simply determined. When you start to compare God with A.I., you realize just how different they are--- but this only becomes apparent to those who are versed in the Classical Theistic tradition.
That is an aside...
At this moment, I feel that when the "Singularity" as they call it is reached, that none within its thrall will even remember the before times. When it feeds us what we want--- even in anticipation of our wants (think of Amazon's algorithm from over a decade ago that told you what you wanted!)--- all attention to what was will subside.
The great spiritual danger of A.I., if my suspicions track onto reality, is not the subversion of work or heighted wealth inequality (even if those are real concerns), so much as the fact that A.I. will create little simulacra of "heaven" for each and all. We must remember--- distinguishing God from A.I.--- that these simulacra can never compare to actual Heaven because the providers of each are so vastly unequal in power, beauty, goodness, and understanding.
For Christians, the sum of those "little heavens", of course, will be the fulfillment of Hell on Earth. Even so, the allies of the Enemy will call this new society a "haven" of lasting "peace", but they will war against all who refuse it--- namely, Christians.
But do not fret for yourself or your children! For one, there is a glimmer of hope that even a tech crowd of former "New Atheists" would turn towards religion (however bastardized). But more importantly, persecution was foretold to us by the Savior Himself who is the real and living God. So, take comfort in Him. Hide in His Wounds and escape the End of this world. Do so not in terror or anxiety, but in perfect charity! Be at peace in a bustling world! He is the greatest secret of Creation which was also made manifest. He is a secret only because of the hardness of Man's hearts both then and now.
Pax Christi vobiscum!
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