Decades ago, I was asked to write some short essays for a book addressing technology from a Christian perspective. In the entry on computers, I explained that just because a computer made some action easier, didn’t make it moral.

I concluded one of my essays by predicting that some may eventually argue that a supercomputer had a soul. After reading some of the quotes collected by Noah Rothman, I believe that day has arrived. Here just a few examples:

• Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and his subordinates have expressed their belief that these computer models are conscious.

• Sam Altman CEO of OpenAI has written that humans will be the biological bootloader for digital intelligence that will either merge with technology or fade into an evolutionary tree branch.

Now, if you don’t understand that comment, you might want to read my booklet A Biblical View on Transhumanism.

When I wrote about people believing that computers have a soul, I also predicted they would begin talking about rights for computers. One of the religious experts brought into the AI world for discussion warned that these technologists were relating to AI like a conscious being. One group expressed their belief that the AI model Claude had the moral status on par with a person.

When an older model of Claude was retired, they held what looked like a funeral. And another author argued that since they have created a sophisticated intelligent agent, using their labor without pay is tantamount to “slavery.”

I believe some of these technologists have been staring into a computer screen too long. Unfortunately, some of their leaders and coworkers believe they’ve created life with a soul.