Throughout history, people have used technology both as an instrument to connect with the divine – from ancient bone oracles to experiments with electromagnetic frequencies to capture the voices of the dead – as well as a force that brings them closer to a divine state. Beliefs in technology as a guiding force are exemplified, for instance, in the Gaian mind ideals promoted by early internet pioneers and cyberspace buffs in the 1990s. More recently, with the explosive growth of various AI algorithms, there is a prevalent belief that new technology will be able to undo the damage we’ve caused on earth. And if technology can’t solve the looming climate crisis, it will surely be able to transport us away and help us colonise Mars. Reflecting on this quasi-religious obsession with technology, the Images of The Divine project uses AI Neural Networks trained on vast amounts of religious and sacred imagery from cultures around the world to explore the potential of creating new gods and goddesses befitting of an AI-dominated future.
