Gods of the AI Age: States

The Divine Role of AI in the Hands of States

Warning: This article explores diverse themes, including human history, belief systems, politics, and technology from an ontological perspective. It may feel unusual, yet I argue the importance of deep engagement with these topics. In the age of artificial intelligence, let’s begin with the belief that our strongest tool to understand our complex world is still our own minds.

Recent revelations concerning Project Nimbus and Israel’s use of artificial intelligence to manage perceived threats demonstrate the transformative and potentially frightening power of this technology in modern state hands. As the world evolves, the concept of power also transforms. Today, states occupy positions akin to gods in a new global pantheon, wielding unprecedented authority over life and death. With artificial intelligence, these modern gods have found their most potent tools, not merely for governance but for manipulating and eliminating perceived threats. This article examines how states expand their divine dominance through artificial intelligence, shaping realities, and defining enemies and believers.

Evolution of Belief in Supreme Power

Human inclination toward believing in a higher power has historically manifested in worshipping gods or divine entities. Over centuries, these beliefs evolved into more abstract and metaphysical concepts. The Enlightenment questioned these beliefs, suggesting they were human constructs. Yet, this did not diminish humanity’s innate need for absolute entities; instead, it redirected this need toward the concept of nation-states. Supported by military and bureaucratic systems, this new entity, like ancient gods, began to assert influence over all aspects of life.

States as the Gods of the AI Age

In the modern era, states assume roles once attributed to gods. They enact laws deeply influencing citizens’ lives, collect taxes, administer justice, and exert control through surveillance and force—echoing the omniscience and omnipotence historically reserved for divine beings. Numerous examples illustrate states wielding their subjects for their purposes. Recent instances include Russia deploying hundreds of thousands of citizens into war for territorial expansion, Israel strategically removing perceived threats to manage demographics, the UK testing nuclear capabilities by exposing thousands of soldiers to nuclear blasts, and Turkey labeling millions as "terrorists" to justify authoritarian transformations under national security pretexts. These instances underscore states’ divine-like powers to shape destinies. It is like they are becoming the Gods of the AI Age.

Artificial Intelligence in Modern Governance

These divine entities now possess a new tool—artificial intelligence. Rapidly becoming indispensable, AI equips states with enhanced capabilities to monitor, predict, and control individuals. Israel’s defense strategies exemplify AI’s role in automating threat identification processes previously reliant on human judgment. Similarly, other countries leverage AI for extensive surveillance systems and predictive policing models that preemptively identify potential criminal behaviors.

AI as a Divine Instrument of Control

AI’s power transcends administrative efficiency—it represents a divine control mechanism for states. Just as ancient gods hurled lightning bolts, modern states use AI-driven technologies to neutralize perceived threats. This practice raises profound ethical questions, particularly without transparent oversight or clear ethical guidelines. AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton emphasizes that the true danger isn’t the technology itself but those who wield it—actors who may harness AI for tremendous good or devastating harm. While Hinton frequently references external enemies, my concern lies with modern gods potentially turning this new divine toy against their citizens. Statistically speaking, the nearest elephant poses the greatest risk of trampling you.

Ethical Dilemmas

The ethical implications of AI in state hands are vast. While AI can potentially serve the common good, its deployment to enhance state power often comes at the expense of individual freedoms and rights. The narrative portraying AI as a neutral tool often masks its capabilities for oppression and control, demanding global reassessment of how such technologies are governed and utilized in public life.

Who Will Protect the Individual from AI-Armed States?

With AI as their most powerful enforcer, states now wield exponentially growing divine powers, reflecting a paradox of modernity. While technology enables societal advancement, its misuse risks creating dystopian realities, where states wield unchecked power like capricious gods. At this juncture, global society must establish robust frameworks ensuring ethical AI usage, transparency, and human dignity.

We must thus ask: Who will protect us—the individual—from our state, our protective deity? Perhaps only through conscious effort can we prevent these modern gods from using their divine new toys against their believers.