The rise of artificial intelligence is a turning point for humanity. This age of artificial intelligence compels us to confront fundamental questions regarding our role as the creators and stewards of technology. The desire to create—from the Prometheus myth to modern innovations—reveals a profound urge to shape the world, and at times, even to go beyond our intentions.
Quest for Power and the Creative Role of Humanity
In ancient Greek mythology, the theft of fire by Prometheus is recounted, while in the Jewish tradition, the creation of the Golem from clay is told. These stories reflect humanity’s unending ambition: to go beyond understanding nature, to conquer it, reshape it, and even to resemble its own creation. When humans regard power not as a right but as a trust, they inevitably assume a creative role.
Artificial Intelligence: The Mirror of Humanity
Today, the debates surrounding artificial intelligence also reflect this ancient desire. It is not merely about building more advanced machines or creating faster computer systems. It concerns our tendency to place ourselves at the center, to pursue meanings outside of truth (ḥaqīqa), and to establish dominion over creation. This deeper issue is the forgetting of our own ontological place—our very essence—and the institutionalization of ignorance. What does it mean to be human? What is a machine? Are knowledge and wisdom the same thing? Where does the difference lie? Artificial intelligence has transformed these questions from technical matters into existential issues for humanity.
Inner Conflict: Pharaoh vs. Moses
The pursuit of technological progress is not a struggle between humans and machines; it is an inner conflict within humanity itself. It is the conflict between the ‘Pharaoh’ and Moses within each of us. Pharaoh embodies the highest level of the human ego—