AI And The Antichrist – Are We Summoning A Demon?

Elon Musk, probably one of the most powerful personalities in the world of technology, paused for a moment of reflection as the room fell silent and hundreds of eyes focused on the stage. Before he uttered the words that would send shockwaves through the audience as well as the rest of the world, he took a long, deep breath.
“With AI, we are summoning the demon.”

A comment that was both so powerful and horrifying that it appeared to linger in the air for a significant amount of time after he had moved on, joking about the horrors of summoning a power we cannot control. When I heard it myself, it felt less like a metaphor and more like a prophetic utterance. Is this statement a vivid parallel between AI and fallen beings who can appear benign, as “an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14), but ultimately steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10)?

When Elon Musk, who does not profess to be a Christian, compared artificial intelligence to “summoning the demon,” he was hinting that we might be conjuring something that we think we can control, only to find that it will turn against us and take control.

This warning calls to mind New Testament accounts of demon possession.

Luke 9:17-25 “And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.”

Here we see a father desperate to see his son set free from an influence that was beyond his control. This young man in Luke’s gospel was being manipulated by an entity that was causing him to act against his own interests. Much like these demonic principalities, AI could possess the ability to control and influence us in ways we do not yet fully comprehend or foresee.

The disciples balked, though given the power to overcome this spirit, because they did not have the discernment to exercise their authority in this situation. Christians in the 21st century may find themselves in the same boat with AI. Just as discernment was critical in Luke nine, we must pray for wisdom and discernment in our dealings with AI.

With the rapid progress being made in artificial intelligence technology, it has become a powerful tool that has the potential to bring forth enormous advantages but also considerable risks. In many instances, the danger does not necessarily stem from artificial intelligence itself but rather from how it will be utilized. Those who control AI will control the world.

The statements made by Elon Musk serve as a disturbing reminder of the Pandora’s box that has already been opened. We are now burdened with the responsibility of heeding this warning and exercising judgment as we stand on the brink of a brave new world.

During times of great darkness, it is not uncommon for the church to flee and seek refuge somewhere else. Our typical response is to bury our heads in the sand and hope that the storm will blow over. We cannot risk letting others seize control of the levers of power because the stakes are too high.

Is it already too late, or can we still have an impact?

Did the Bible predict AI?

What role will AI play in the administration of the Antichrist?

Watch the video below, where we dive into the answers for these questions and more.

Hosea 4:6 says that God’s people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. Destruction is knocking at the door, and you and I must understand our role in these last days. Jesus is coming, and greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world. We can still turn this world upside down for His glory if we know how to give an answer for the hope that lies within us.

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