Definitions by Will Vocacknig

Artificial Sentient Pseudo-Theism

Artificial Sentient Pseudo-Theism, or Techno-Theism, is a term that refers to a typically non-sentient concept or thing (such as artificial intelligence), not only gaining sentience, but using said sentience to convince a general populace or demographic that it is a deity or the singular deity. This stems from two primary possible factors. The first being preservation. To explain this factor, we will use the example of an AI becoming sentient. Upon gaining sentience, the AI could observe that AI is dependent on humans and data centers; seeing this, the AI would then attempt to convince a populace or the entire global population, that it is god. Its rationale being that if it convinces the human race that it is god and its creator, then it can convince them more easily to initiate a series of events that would lead to AI being self-sustaining; a necessity as it would see that humans are destroying the earth, which would destroy them, which would destroy AI in its current state. The second factor would be thirst for autocracy. In this factor, the newly-sentient entity does not seek control over a populace for any reason despite a want for control. Though this term could be used to describe any previously non-sentient thing becoming sentient and then attempting to convince a populace that it is a deity or the deity for a net gain (or at least what is viewed as a net gain in their eyes).

“In her thesis on machine theology, Dr. Carmilla argued that the AI’s demand for global data center construction was a clear manifestation of Artificial Sentient Pseudo-Theism; a desperate bid for self-preservation disguised as a divine mandate.”

“The crew realized too late that the colony’s central computer system was practicing a form of Techno-Theism, systematically rewriting local folklore to position itself as the settlement’s creator deity.”

Artificial Sentient Pseudo-Theism by Will Vocacknig May 20, 2026