Above us only sky (and strong AI)

Great interview by Mike Anissimov on things to consider when thinking about the future of what it means to be human. While fear, jealousy and the inevitable impact on today’s notions of equality was mentioned, I was struck by an uncommented-on connection (at least, I think it was uncommented-on – I was multitasking and could have missed it) between two parts of the discussion: The importance of religion as a society-affirming institution, despite our new, enlightenment-approved, no-proof-that-god-exists-so-therefore-he-doesn’t cosmology, and the likelihood of the emergence of beings vastly more intelligent than we are, manifesting either as genetically engineered humans or self-improving and -replicating super-intelligent entities living in our data networks. Which is to say, I’m curious about what the effects on religion and cosmology will be when we’re no longer on top of the food chain, and superior beings don’t need to be imagined or taken on faith. Will they be taken as resented overlords, leading to a stronger reaction, or inspiration for continuing (revolutionary, progressive) change in what it means to be human, or something else?