What's R Future

Will AI Enhance the Totalitarian Behaviors of Humans

This podcast examines whether artificial intelligence (AI) will amplify totalitarian tendencies in human societies through the philosophical lenses of Augusto Del Noce, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Pope Benedict XVI, and Václav Havel. The case for AI enhancing totalitarianism hinges on its alignment with instrumental rationality, which reduces human reasoning to technical problem-solving (Del Noce), erodes moral agency (Solzhenitsyn), enables pervasive surveillance (Havel), and marginalizes non-technical worldviews. AI’s optimization-driven logic risks entrenching technocratic control, diminishing metaphysical inquiry, and automating social conformity. Conversely, the case against emphasizes AI’s potential to democratize knowledge, enhance human judgment, expose systemic flaws in technocratic systems, and reinforce communities grounded in spiritual values (Solzhenitsyn). Properly framed, AI could support human reason (Benedict XVI) by aiding decision-making while preserving moral autonomy. The analysis concludes that AI’s impact is not deterministic but shaped by societal philosophical frameworks. To prevent totalitarian outcomes, humanity must uphold transcendent values, maintain spaces for moral and metaphysical questioning, and ensure technology serves—rather than replaces—human judgment and community. Key safeguards include recognizing human dignity, fostering ethical governance of AI, and prioritizing wisdom over mere technical efficiency. Ultimately, the document argues that resisting the reduction of reason to instrumental logic and nurturing human-centric values will determine whether AI fosters freedom or tyranny.

"So Christ Was A Simulation?"

This episode discusses the simulation hypothesis, which suggests that our reality could be a simulated environment created by an advanced civilization. We trace the historical and philosophical roots of this idea, from ancient Chinese and Greek philosophy to modern thinkers like Nick Bostrom and David Chalmers. Many influential technologists believe in the simulation hypothesis, which I find problematic from a Catholic theological perspective. I argue that the simulation hypothesis is incompatible with key Catholic beliefs. I conclude by again emphasizing the need to evangelize technologists who hold these beliefs, as they are an influential group whose secular humanist beliefs may be embedded in the technologies they create.

"Ex Machina, Ex Cathedra: The Catholic Church's Role in Shaping the Future of AI"

In this podcast script, I discuss the Catholic Church's role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI). Of course I am optimistic about the gradual development of AI and its potential to benefit humanity. I discuss the importance of open-source AI platforms and diversity in AI development, aligning these principles with Catholic teachings on the common good. While bias in AI is inevitable, fostering a diverse ecosystem of AI systems appropriate for different cultures and value systems is crucial. Drawing on Pope Francis' critique of the "technocratic paradigm" in Laudato Si, I discuss the need for the Church to approach AI with humility and respect for the mystery of creation. Catholics need to engage with these developments in a spirit of discernment, seeking to harness the power of technology for the common good while remaining grounded in faith and commitment to human dignity. Ultimately, AI should serve to advance and enrich the ways we worship God and evangelize others.

Catechizing For A Scientific Age: Will The Church Catch Up?

This WhatsRFuture podcast episode is the second season. In this podcast we discuss the topics of faith, science, and technology from a Catholic perspective. Joining me are Rich Bonomo, the head of the SCS-Wisconsin chapter and Kate Bulinski, a paleontologist and practicing Catholic, from Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY. In this podcast, we discuss the challenges of reconciling faith and science, particularly within the Catholic Church. Kate shares her experiences teaching a course on evolution and creationism, and her involvement with SCS. She highlights the importance of early catechesis in helping young people understand the compatibility of faith and science. Our discussion touches on the historical context of the perceived conflict between faith and science. We also discuss the challenges faced by the Catholic Church in addressing this issue, including inadequate catechesis, the influence of Protestant fundamentalism, and the prevalence of scientism in popular culture, especially the distasteful habit of conflating all Christian denominations into Protestant fundamentalism. You can find more of Kate's work here: Kate gave the keynote address after our recent Gold Mass in Louisville: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZnqnkdOTZA&t=1201s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZnqnkdOTZA&t=1201s] Here are some essays Kate has written on topics that might be of interest: Bulinski, K.V., “Correcting Misconceptions About Science and Faith in the Classroom” Invited contribution to the Vatican Observatory Sacred Space Astronomy Online Magazine, October 30, 2021 https://www.vaticanobservatory.org/sacred-space-astronomy/correcting-misconceptions-about-science-and-faith-in-the-classroom/ [https://www.vaticanobservatory.org/sacred-space-astronomy/correcting-misconceptions-about-science-and-faith-in-the-classroom/] Bulinski, K.V. 2019 Evolution and Faith: Compatible and Complementary. The Record Newspaper, May 16th, 2019. Invited contribution as a part of the faith and science series from the Archdiocese of Louisville. https://therecordnewspaper.org/evolution-and-faith-compatible-and-complimentary/ [https://therecordnewspaper.org/evolution-and-faith-compatible-and-complimentary/] Bulinski, K.V. 2019 A Time to Speak—A Wide-Angle View of Earth. The Record Newspaper, January 16th, 2019. Column published following invited contribution to the Vatican Observatory Sacred Space Astronomy Online Magazine from December, 2018. https://therecordnewspaper.org/a-time-to-speak-a-wide-angle-view-of-earth/ [https://therecordnewspaper.org/a-time-to-speak-a-wide-angle-view-of-earth/] And a podcast: Bulinski, K.V., July 31, 2020. “Science, Faith, and Deep Time: A Conversation with Geologist and Paleontologist Dr. Kate Bulinski. Earth and Spirit Podcast for the Passionist Earth and Spirit Center. https://anchor.fm/earthandspiritcenter/episodes/Science--Faith--and-Deep-Time-A-Conversation-with-Geologist-and-Paleontologist-Dr--Kate-Bulinski-ehaspl/a-a2q7qjf [https://anchor.fm/earthandspiritcenter/episodes/Science--Faith--and-Deep-Time-A-Conversation-with-Geologist-and-Paleontologist-Dr--Kate-Bulinski-ehaspl/a-a2q7qjf]

Artificial General Intelligence

This WhatsRFuture podcast episode is a bit different than the ones in the past. Rich Bonomo, the first person interviewed on the WhatsRFuture podcast interviews Tim Carone, the podcast host. Rich talks to Tim about Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and how impactful AGI will be to the Church. 00:03:08 Introduction 00:8:45 Artificial Intelligence and AGI Intro 00:27:26 AGI Deep Dive 00:49:32 St. Augustine and "I Am a Strange Loop", a 2007 book by Douglas Hofstadter 00:57:50 Scientism, the After Life, and the Singularity 01:01:30 Do We Live in a Simulation? 01:07:30 AGI and The Challenge to the Church 01:27:50 AGI Relation to Faith and Reason