EXPLORING METAPHYSICAL REALITIES IN THE WORLD OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

Abstract

Metaphysics, a philosophical discipline focused on exploring the fundamental nature of reality, remains significant despite the dominance of science in today’s empirically driven world. When metaphysics intersects with artificial intelligence (AI), it provokes deep questions about consciousness, morality, and the characteristics of the divine. This paper uses an evaluative approach to investigate whether AI can develop religious awareness, comprehend divine transcendence, or engage in moral reasoning akin to human religious ethics. It also addresses theological considerations, such as the potential of AI to participate in religious practices, interpret sacred texts, and make ethical choices. Drawing from philosophical—particularly metaphysical—perspectives, the study assesses AI’s limitations in understanding metaphysical concepts and examines how it affects religious traditions. Ethical concerns are also discussed, especially regarding AI’s influence on faith communities, human autonomy, and responsibility. The findings indicate that AI operates within constraints set by its training data and model design. Ultimately, AI lacks subjective experience, self-awareness, and qualia. While AI can mimic understanding, it does not possess true metaphysical insight. Therefore, its integration into religious contexts should be approached cautiously and only to a limited extent.