CAN AN AI GRASP MASONIC LIGHT?

By Iván HERRERA MICHEL

If some years ago someone had told us that something surpassing human intelligence could enter Masonry, we would probably have thought they were speaking about extraterrestrials or some wild science fiction movie. Yet now, with artificial intelligence everywhere, we find ourselves asking the question: can AI truly aid us in our quest for Masonic light?

Many brethren would say no, and I understand that. AI can handle vast amounts of data, but it doesn’t comprehend its meaning. It doesn’t feel, it lacks that spark that drives us to ask profound questions about ourselves. Nevertheless, I think there is something intriguing here: while AI may not find the light, it might help us in our search for it.

We have always sought out tools that aid in better understanding ourselves and the world. AI is simply another tool. Even though it sometimes seems cold and filled only with numbers, it could serve as a mirror. Not an ordinary mirror, but one that lets us see our ideas from a different perspective. I’m not suggesting that AI can replace what we do in our rituals, but it could provide us with an angle we hadn’t considered before.

We know that symbols carry deep meanings. By analyzing information, AI could show us how those symbols have been understood in other cultures. It would be fascinating to see how a Masonic symbol relates to other traditions. This isn’t about having a machine tell us what a symbol means but about opening our minds to new ideas.

We might think of AI as a friend in our Masonic library, that brother who has read a great deal and, rather than telling us what to think, invites us to explore. It provides information, but ultimately, it’s up to us to delve into it. AI can be useful for viewing more paths and letting us decide which we wish to follow.

Of course, we can’t forget that, for now, artificial intelligence has no ethics. This can be somewhat disconcerting. How can we trust something that lacks morality? But if we use AI to see how our decisions impact the world, we’re not setting aside our responsibility. On the contrary, we’re broadening our perspective. Instead of being a problem, it reminds us to stay true to our principles.

We shouldn’t expect AI to be a Masonic brother in the most classical sense. For now, it won’t participate in our rituals or understand what it means to undergo Masonic trials. However, it can be a tool that helps us reflect, reminding us that we live in an era where knowledge is accessible in ways we couldn’t have imagined before.

The possibility that artificial intelligence could possess consciousness and a sense of ethics is an interesting topic. Today, these machines process information at incredible speeds, but no matter how hard they try, they cannot experience life as we do. They don’t feel, lack a clear sense of identity, and miss that spark that guides our decisions.

But who knows? Perhaps one day, in a future we can’t foresee, they may come close to achieving that. Perhaps...