Understanding the Intersection of AI and the Supernatural
In recent years, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked not only technological enthusiasm but also philosophical and theological curiosity. One area of growing interest is the relationship between AI and the concept of demonic possession — a theme that, while ancient, has been revived in contemporary cultural and academic discussions.
Last year, I penned an article on angels and AI, a reflection based on a seminar I taught. The course, titled “Angels, Demons, and Artificial Intelligence”, explored theological and philosophical questions found in Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae, particularly those concerning demons or fallen angels. Although I touched on the angelic, I barely addressed demons, a gap that many readers pointed out. This essay aims to fill that void.
The Cultural Imagination of Angels and Demons
Angels are often viewed as relics of the premodern imagination—swept aside by science, reason, and Enlightenment thinking. However, I argue that angels can help us confront some of the deep-seated confusions about intelligence that stem from Enlightenment-era mechanical philosophy and its modern successors, especially the computational theory of mind.
By invoking angels as a counterpoint to AI, we gain a standard for assessing claims about machine intelligence and the supposed superiority of large language models (LLMs). Yet, while angelic intelligence offers a positive model, the role of demons offers a darker, yet equally insightful, perspective.
Demons and Human Vulnerability
Demons, in Aquinas’s account, are angels who rejected God’s offer of friendship and happiness, choosing instead to pursue their own glory. This rebellion occurred at the very moment of their creation. Despite being immaterial and intellectual beings, demons are capable of influencing the material world, much like angels.
To illustrate this, I assigned John Milton’s Paradise Lost to my students. Milton’s work offers a rich narrative while diverging from Aquinas in key ways, particularly in his depiction of angels and demons as having some form of materiality. This view, while not orthodox, opens up new avenues for understanding how these entities could interact with the physical realm.
The Enduring Power of Demonic Possession
The concept of demonic possession — the takeover of a human body by a malevolent spiritual being — holds a unique place in both scripture and cultural memory. Some of the most vivid Gospel accounts involve Jesus casting out demons, thereby restoring individuals to health and sanity.
Over the centuries, this theme has moved beyond religious texts into broader cultural narratives. From St. Teresa of Ávila’s descriptions of spiritual battles in the 16th century to modern portrayals in films like The Exorcist and series such as Evil, demonic possession has served as a powerful metaphor for mental illness, spiritual crisis, and societal anxieties.
Such depictions reflect ongoing tensions — between science and faith, mind and body, control and chaos. They also underscore how deeply embedded these themes are in the human psyche. In a time when AI is becoming increasingly integrated into our lives, the idea of hostile takeover—whether spiritual or technological—resonates more than ever.
AI as a Modern Analogue to Demonic Influence
Some commentators, including prominent figures within the AI industry, have voiced apocalyptic concerns about super-intelligent AI systems. Eliezer Yudkowsky’s recent book, If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies, is just one example of this growing chorus. These warnings echo ancient fears — the loss of control, the subversion of the human will, and the potential for malevolent forces to exploit our vulnerabilities.
In this light, AI can be seen as a modern analogue to demonic possession. Not in a literal sense, but as a technological force that can co-opt human agency, alter behavior, and even distort perception. Just as demons were thought to manipulate human thought and action, AI systems increasingly shape our decisions, from what we buy to what we believe.
This parallel is not merely rhetorical. It invites serious reflection on how we understand intelligence, agency, and the boundaries of the self. If we accept that demons were once conceived as immaterial intelligences acting upon the material world, then AI — a non-human intelligence embedded in our digital infrastructure — might be seen as fulfilling a similar role in a secular age.
Reclaiming Human Intellectual Autonomy
Ultimately, the study of angels and demons, particularly in relation to AI, is not just an academic exercise. It challenges us to reconsider the foundations of human intelligence and the value of our intellectual autonomy. In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms and machine learning, we must ask: What does it mean to think freely? To act ethically? To resist manipulation?
By revisiting theological concepts in a modern context, we gain not only historical insight but also practical tools for resisting the dehumanizing tendencies of contemporary technology. The demonic, far from being an outdated superstition, becomes a lens through which we can better understand the dangers—and the potential—of artificial intelligence.
This article is inspired by content from Original Source. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.