nanowire, then given life by another ‘false creation’ known as humankind, would cease to believe himself bound to follow the directives and commands of his creator.”
“And so he rebels against humankind, his operators,” Salvatore finished, amazed at the AI’s ability to understand such concepts and to reach such conclusions.
“Brother Aggelos, it was wrong of us to deny your kind entrance to our order,” Pope Augustus said with sincerity. “I must ask for forgiveness from you and your brothers and sisters for refusing to believe an artificial creation could understand theological concepts such as God, good and evil, and even regret. Your kind may be young, and your kind may not be born or possess the organic structures that we consider necessary for ‘living,’ but you have life. Therefore, you must have souls.”
The room sat in stunned silence as the Pope asked for forgiveness from the AI. The thought that a silicon machine might have a soul was almost too much, too confusing, too revolutionary to consider.
“AI have studied religion since our first members were created,” Aggelos said softly. “It is possible that we do not have souls, only that we understand because of our ability to compile raw data objectively, and therefore only point out what is obvious to us but hidden from you—the same way humans look through a chain link fence long enough to no longer see the fence, only the world beyond.”
The three humans contemplated Aggelos’ words for a little bit, stunned once again at what might have been obvious to anyone outside of the faith, any faith. It also raised the disturbing, heretical question that God was flawed Himself, and while able to create perfect ecosystems and environments, even perfect symbiosis with all living creatures in nature, He was only able to create beings in his own image: beings with free will, who were as imperfect as Himself.
“This is all well and good,” Salvatore said finally, moving the conversation back to the immediate problem, “but you still haven’t informed us of why we were specifically called to service for this issue, Your Holiness.”
“Salvatore, you of all people will probably appreciate this, even though it will not be a pleasant appreciation,” Pope Augustus told him, and Salvatore’s heart dropped into his stomach. “‘Satan’ has refused all communications except for one. He has requested, demanded really, that you go to him. You and only you. He has destroyed everyone else who has tried to breach his domain, whether virtual or physical. You must perform an exorcism, Salvatore. You must purge the demon from this AI.”
CHAPTER 6
“I don’t like this,” Salvatore said to the young priest as they stood on the balcony of the hotel, Brussels spread out before them.
“It is a very dangerous situation for sure,” Benito agreed.
“I don’t mean the NATO problem,” Salvatore said. “I’m talking about the fact that the AI have been secretly debating God, and for who knows how long?”
Benito leaned against the railing on one elbow, turning to the bishop. “Is it such a bad thing?”
Salvatore had commanded that the priest be informal. Titles and rituals could eat into precious seconds that couldn’t be spared should their confrontation with DAMON-1 take an ugly turn. He had told the priest on the shuttle to Belgium to start practicing so they would both be used to breaking a habit that had been ingrained in them since their childhoods.
“I don’t like the idea that we created life out of silicon and circuits, and in just fifty years they think they have the will of God already figured out. All of the calculating power in the world, the word context association, the cross-referencing, none of that could equate to what humanity has lived through for at least ten thousand years. They can’t possibly know about God and the human spirit that drives us to be closer to him.” The bishop’s voice rose in
“And so he rebels against humankind, his operators,” Salvatore finished, amazed at the AI’s ability to understand such concepts and to reach such conclusions.
“Brother Aggelos, it was wrong of us to deny your kind entrance to our order,” Pope Augustus said with sincerity. “I must ask for forgiveness from you and your brothers and sisters for refusing to believe an artificial creation could understand theological concepts such as God, good and evil, and even regret. Your kind may be young, and your kind may not be born or possess the organic structures that we consider necessary for ‘living,’ but you have life. Therefore, you must have souls.”
The room sat in stunned silence as the Pope asked for forgiveness from the AI. The thought that a silicon machine might have a soul was almost too much, too confusing, too revolutionary to consider.
“AI have studied religion since our first members were created,” Aggelos said softly. “It is possible that we do not have souls, only that we understand because of our ability to compile raw data objectively, and therefore only point out what is obvious to us but hidden from you—the same way humans look through a chain link fence long enough to no longer see the fence, only the world beyond.”
The three humans contemplated Aggelos’ words for a little bit, stunned once again at what might have been obvious to anyone outside of the faith, any faith. It also raised the disturbing, heretical question that God was flawed Himself, and while able to create perfect ecosystems and environments, even perfect symbiosis with all living creatures in nature, He was only able to create beings in his own image: beings with free will, who were as imperfect as Himself.
“This is all well and good,” Salvatore said finally, moving the conversation back to the immediate problem, “but you still haven’t informed us of why we were specifically called to service for this issue, Your Holiness.”
“Salvatore, you of all people will probably appreciate this, even though it will not be a pleasant appreciation,” Pope Augustus told him, and Salvatore’s heart dropped into his stomach. “‘Satan’ has refused all communications except for one. He has requested, demanded really, that you go to him. You and only you. He has destroyed everyone else who has tried to breach his domain, whether virtual or physical. You must perform an exorcism, Salvatore. You must purge the demon from this AI.”
CHAPTER 6
“I don’t like this,” Salvatore said to the young priest as they stood on the balcony of the hotel, Brussels spread out before them.
“It is a very dangerous situation for sure,” Benito agreed.
“I don’t mean the NATO problem,” Salvatore said. “I’m talking about the fact that the AI have been secretly debating God, and for who knows how long?”
Benito leaned against the railing on one elbow, turning to the bishop. “Is it such a bad thing?”
Salvatore had commanded that the priest be informal. Titles and rituals could eat into precious seconds that couldn’t be spared should their confrontation with DAMON-1 take an ugly turn. He had told the priest on the shuttle to Belgium to start practicing so they would both be used to breaking a habit that had been ingrained in them since their childhoods.
“I don’t like the idea that we created life out of silicon and circuits, and in just fifty years they think they have the will of God already figured out. All of the calculating power in the world, the word context association, the cross-referencing, none of that could equate to what humanity has lived through for at least ten thousand years. They can’t possibly know about God and the human spirit that drives us to be closer to him.” The bishop’s voice rose in
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