....If we created machines that were self aware, able to reason, perhaps 'evolve' to have emotion, etc how would that affect any religious beliefs you may have? Also, do your religious beliefs give you an opinion on if we even should create artificial intelligence? One issue is that many view God as the creator, saying he creates and takes life. If we create AIs, is that the same as God creating Human beings? We almost are AIs except that we are organic and not machines. Not sure what true issues may arise here, I hope it is clear what discussion I am trying to initiate.
A lot sci fi stories have been written about this such as "I robot".
I was interesting in searching that issue in a Baha'i context and for us anyway the production of an artificial intelligence ... if possible...would not be in our view anything resembling a living being as only God creates:
statement made by 'Abdu'l-Bahá on "The Origin of Man" from Bahá'í World Faith, p.
298 (originally Some Answered Questions, p.
211):
For example, if a man of his own mind and intelligence collects some elements and combines them, a living being will not be brought into existence, since the system is unnatural. This is the answer to the implied question that, since beings are made by the composition and the combination of elements, why is it not possible for us to gather elements and mingle them together, and so create a living being. This is a false supposition, for the origin of this composition is from God; it is God Who makes the combination, and as it is done according to the natural system, from each composition one being is produced, and an existence is realized. A composition made by man produces nothing because man cannot create.
However in another sense there is nothing specific in our Writings about the hypothetical possibility so we would probably have to defer making any pronouncements until such an event arises and then a better assessment could be made.