Silicon Seers and the AI Promised Land: Analysing Prophetic Narratives of AI in the Pursuit for AI Supremacy

Dissertation abstract

February 3, 2025

Silicon Seers and the AI Promised Land: Analysing Prophetic Narratives of AI in the Pursuit for AI Supremacy

Dissertation abstract submitted to the Department of Philosophy, University of Cambridge; in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MSt AI Ethics and Society

This is an abstract from my research resulting in a dissertation in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MSt in AI Ethics and Society at the University of Cambridge. It is not a comprehensive representation of the full study and may omit detailed analyses, methodologies, and supporting evidence for the sake of brevity. The findings and interpretations presented here have not undergone formal peer review and should be considered preliminary.
Readers are encouraged to approach the content with this context in mind and to seek further clarification or discussion if needed. For inquiries about the complete research or for collaboration opportunities, reach out to me directly.

This research explores prophetic AI narratives, characterised by visions of utopian or dystopian futures, appeals to reason, prophecies, and visionary leaders. It aims to identify the elements, influences, and ideals in these narratives and their interaction with sociocultural contexts. Prophetic AI narratives are defined as discursive strategies depicting futures shaped by advanced superintelligence, using predictions and rhetorical devices akin to religious prophecy. The study reveals how these narratives are normalised by influential figures and legitimised by institutions, conveying ideologies and moral claims in service to humanity. It examines the relationship between Judeo-Christian traditions and technological ideologies, their manifestation in AI narratives, and parallels with religious experiences, arguing these narratives are a form of ideological fantasy. Using multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis of AI leaders' interviews and keynotes, the research identified patterns in language, legitimation mechanisms, and representation decisions, suggesting their role in power dynamics and reinforcing ideological beliefs. A Taxonomy of Prophetic Narratives of AI was developed, with six categories: Cautionary Prophecy, Metaphor, Prediction, Prophetism, Scepticism, and Spiritual. The broader discursive analysis suggests these narratives have significant societal implications, proposing further research to expand the conversation on AI ideologies and their socio-cultural contexts.