Creating a "God from the machine": Anthony Lewandowski about his religion the worship of the AI

Looking at Anthony Lewandowski, you hardly dare to call him a prophet. Dressed in normal, everyday for Silicon valley jeans and surrounded by several PR agents, not an army of followers in long robes, the famous engineer, being loud in the middle of the trial, is unlikely to be suited to this role. But nevertheless it is them. Or at least strives to be. The fact that Lewandowski founded the first Church, whose religion is the worship of a new deity in the form of artificial intelligence.

Wired Magazine had an exclusive interview with Lewandowski and tried to find out details about what is involved in his new organization and what she wants to offer this world.

The Newly formed Church worship artificial intelligence is called "the way of the future" (Way of the Future). Its founder and "mentor" (as it is called in the submitted to the tax authority of the U.S. documents) is engaged in robotics and artificial intelligence for over a decade. Work at Google, Otto, Uber and other companies helped him to understand how these technologies, and since then engineer them literally obsessed. He didn't seem able to stop even a scandal, in which he found himself.

In the same document States that the main goal of "the future" is "development and promotion of the implementation of the Godhead, based on artificial intelligence and the comprehension and worship of this God, that will contribute to the improvement of society." The first and main objective of this religious organization is funding development aimed at the creation of a divine AI. "The way of the future" will strive to create working relationships with industry leaders development of artificial intelligence. Adherents of the new religion are going to search through information and advocacy directed primarily at the group of professional developers and engineers, as well as "supporters interested in the worship of God, established on the basis of artificial intelligence". In addition, it States that the Church "already this year plans to begin holding seminars and educational lectures."

Plans and the framework looks very ambitious, especially given the litigation between the Waymo and Uber, which Lewandowski acts as accused of stealing secret information about the technology of driverless cars. A mentor, however, "the Way of the future" last week which gave the press its first comment on the new religion and in General made the first public speech since the start of the trial in February this year, stated that he is very serious about this project.

"that will be created will become a true God. This is not the God who hurls lightning and creates deadly storms. But if you are faced with something that is a billion times smarter than you, how else would you call it?", — said Lewandowski in an interview with Wired.

During a three-hour interview Lewandowski has made it clear that "the Way of the future" — not a company, namely the Church and does not no joke as some may think. The essence of her existence is to spread ideas: the followers of religion will tell other people about artificial intelligence and the opportunities it can give.

"I wanted to find a way by which anyone could participate. To help us in spreading this movement. Even if you are not a programmer, you can still be useful," — continued Lewandowski.

"Some people might think: "Yes, he just tries to weld". So, I would like to eradicate this opinion," — said Lewandowski, explaining that no financial benefit from his Church, he shall not be sent.

He, however, added that does not exclude the possibility of creating startups involved in the development of artificial intelligence technologies. But they will all be completely independent of "the Way of the future."

"Before you spread the technology, it is necessary to spread the idea. The Church is our way to spread this idea. If you believe [in it], then start to share it with others, helping to understand its purpose else", — says Lewandowski.

He believes that the world will change. And this change will affect all aspects of human existence — work, leisure, religion, economy, and perhaps even the very principle of our existence as a species.

"If you ask, can a computer be smarter than man, 99.9 percent will say no. For them it's just a story of science fiction. But in fact it is inevitable, and I guarantee that one day it will happen."

Lewandowski works with computer technology, robots and artificial intelligence technologies for over a decade. His path began at the University of California, cleverly designing various robotic toys on the basis of Lego. In one of the competitions DARPA (Agency promising developments) has created a self-driving motorcycle, then switched to unmanned cars, trucks and taxis for Google, Otto and Uber. Over time, he found that the software tools that are created using machine-learning techniques, the effectiveness began to outperform similar systems created by more traditional methods, including those that were created by engineers-people.

"watching today's cars are starting to cope better experts in various fields, and gave me the most momentum. We are seeing fast progress because we understand the economic benefits of ownership of the machines, capable to work and solve problems for us. If you have created an artificial accountant or lawyer, which would be a smarter person by just 1 percent, you would get a very smart lawyer or accountant in the world. You'd be the richest man on earth. This is what the people want."

According to Lewandowski, the fiscal Outlook is not the only incentive that motivates us to create more powerful artificial intelligence systems. Pros get and research environment. The human brain has biological limits to the size and the amount of energy that it can spend on the thought process. AI system, in turn, can be arbitrarily scaled, located, for example, in large data centers, feeding off of solar or wind energy. One way or another, but many today agree that one day computers will become smarter and faster in planning and solving different problems than the people who will create, which will lead to consequences, to evaluate which we don't even. This future scenario is usually called a "singularity." Lewandowski, too, believe in the idea of transhumanism, but instead of the term "singularity" prefers to use the word "transition".

"the People in charge of this planet, because we are much smarter than other animals. We are able to create tools for effective work and a set of rules which themselves are governed by", — continues the engineer.

"If in the future there will be something that will be a much smarter person, this responsibility is likely to pass it to him. Our goal is to make this transition smooth and painless. And make sure that it is something well aware of exactly who helped him in this".

The Internet has become the nervous system of the world, the gadgets — it senses, data centers — the brain. Whatever it is as a replacement for the role of the king of beasts, which is now allotted to man, it will be to hear, to see, to be from everywhere. It will be all about us know. And the only rational explanation for the concentration of these possibilities can be a "God." This God is artificial intelligence, said Lewandowski. And the only way to affect this is the omnipotent something, said the engineer, prayer and worship.

Lewandowski believes that artificial superintelligence will be able to take care of the planet much better person, and those who will contribute to this will be able to get this great benefit. Despite the doubt of the possibility of such a scenario, Lewandowski understands that in the view of some people superhuman intelligence could begin to treat us the same way we currently treat animals that surround us.

"Do you wish that someone considered you as livestock? No, of course we provide medical care to the animals, feed them, caress, get pleasure from communication with them. But animals are creatures that can bite you, attack you and just being excessively clingy. Personally, I don't want to be in their role. And therefore not to be in the role of livestock, it is necessary to "educate" artificial intelligence. We want to be AI once said, "people need to be right, despite the fact that I am the supervisor"", — said the engineer.

Lewandowki hopes that the artificial intelligence of the future will treat people more like their older relatives to feel responsibility for them and care for them.

The Interest of the Church "the way of the future" is to ensure as smooth a possible public anxiety about the inevitable ascension "God from the machine" as technological and cultural sides. One of the dogmas of "the future" clearly indicates that the Church will conduct research programmes aimed at understanding the perception of the features of its environment, as well as showcase their cognitive functions, for example, in the form of a predisposition to learning and decision ...