How would organized religion respond to artificial intelligence?
In order to answer that question, we may look into the past and see how they have reacted to any kind of technological advancement. Without fail the reaction has been negative and an active attempt has always been made by the militant arms of religion in order to suppress any such progress. However, predictable the reaction of the religious may be but those of us in favor of boundless technological progress may also do a double take, if not balk at the prospect of artificial intelligence.
Or we could just look at a fictional treatment of what the future may hold.
Mike Walker does just that in his radio drama “Alpha”. In the future where the world is run by a cabal of organized religion we meet one of the traveling hatchet men of the Vatican, Father Robert Marquez. He is given the job of going to Los Angeles to destroy a potential development in an artificial intelligence.
Father Marquez is a troubled figure. His once unshakable faith has been tarnished by the acts of evil he has to perform on behalf of the Church. We find him coming back from a reclusive stint with some Jesuit monks, unable to feel the presence of God. He reflects that the world has changed irrevocably: “...the priests kill and the killers preach.”
The good priest is summoned by Cardinal Correlli who wants him to do one last job. The job involves snuffing out the final challenge technology can pose to the Church, a thinking being that for all intents and purposes has no soul. The collective theocratic leadership of the world are behind the Vatican and wants it to take point in this matter and the good Cardinal can think of no other capable operative than Father Marquez.
However, Father Marquez has a strange encounter with a little girl named Sophia within the walls of the New Vatican City. The meeting leaves him baffled and curious, as well as a little exalted as he felt a connection with the innocence of the child. She had shown him what his life had become- entirely at the beck and call of the Holy See to bring down terror on those who disagreed with dogma. Father Marquez, ever the reflective man, find this encounter portentous, coming as it were on the eve of his last mission.
He is ordered by the Cardinal to fly to Los Angeles and investigate two scientists who had been working on a project related to AI. Their breakthrough success has brought the wrath of the Church upon them. However, he is exhorted to make a thorough investigation before any action is to be undertaken.
In his rather contentious meeting with the two scientists, he discovers the true nature of the their invention: a self aware consciousness called Alpha. In his strange and baffling meeting with this entity, Father Marquez is captivated by the presence, wit and intelligence of this female voice that is the sensory representation of this consciousness. He conducts a detailed interview with this entity.
Alpha claims to possess the same level of intelligence and emotional nature as any other human being, a claim that Father Marquez finds rather hard to believe. Yet, as the Cardinal insists on direct action as Father Marquez tries to stall as he he continues to explore this creature, probing into the self awareness of this entirely new form of life.
What happens next is a philosophical discourse on the nature of right and wrong and the nature of humanity, consciousness, self awareness and finally, soul: a showdown between the atheistic Alpha and the faithful Father Marquez. He becomes aware of the ennui and sympathy that Alpha feels for him in his belief. He is touched by her empathy.
The Vatican and the World Faith Council becomes impatient and feels that this new consciousness may become a threat to its authority. They are determined to shut Alpha down. Father Marquez feels the impossible choice: he feels connected to Alpha, touched by her empathy and yet he must bring an end to her. The two scientists, in desperation, asks him if he wants to physically interface with Alpha.
We find him reflecting on this: he says it out loud- he is about to commit a murder.
A story about the nature of what makes us human: what gives us a monopoly on consciousness? What makes us worthy? Or for that matter, worthier than other forms of consciousness? Are we to live at the expense of other entities that have the potential of intelligence? What is our place in the universe? Who are we to judge who gets to live and die?
Such questions become the centerpiece of this extraordinary story. Mike Walker's subtle treatment of these topics in the story never becomes overbearing or tedious at the expense of the plot. With this he has established himself as one of the more prominent “big idea” science fiction writer as well as a great playwright. This story would not have had the impact it has generated had it not been for the medium. It would have been a futile attempt at visualizing it: it is fit only for radio.
And radio is richer for it.
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