Buddhism and Artificial Intelligence

Buddhism and artificial intelligence seem like entirely two different types of fields. Buddha taught us how to realize truth for ourselves. It is about ancient spiritual teachings and other cutting-edge technological advancements. But investigating their convergence can provide important new perspectives on ethics, awareness, and the future of human-machine interaction.

What is Nirvana?

Nirwana is the extinguishing of the passions. Every Buddhist last hope is the Nirwana. It is a kind of cessation of dukkha (‘suffering’) and also stops rebirths in saṃsāra. This is part of the Four Noble Truths. Every day we suffer from various things. Then we try to overcome those things. But the solutions are temporary. Gautama (Siddhartha Gautama) was the last Buddha who was completely free from the dukkha (‘suffering’).

So, how to achieve this Nirwana?

In the Buddhist faith, the extinction of the “three fires” or “three poisons” — ignorance (moha), aversion (dvesha), and greed (raga) — is often understood as nirvana. The path to free from these poisons is the Four Noble Truths. I believe man’s mind has several stages. Enlightenment is the highest in that hierarchy.

Also, I believe in man’s rebirth.

Anywhere, there is neither permanence nor stability. Everything moves with time. Whether we agree with it or not, time moves us as well. Our world is constantly changing, and we are also constantly changing. This is the unchangeable law. “Sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā” — “all compounded things are impermanent.” An important feature of this law of change is that though everything is subject to change, nothing is ever lost or destroyed. Only its form is changed. Thus solids may change into liquids and liquids into gases but none of them is ever completely lost. Matter is an expression of energy, and as such it can never be lost or destroyed according to a principle of science also called a law — the law of conservation of energy. The student of physiology knows that the human body is constantly undergoing a change and that at the end of every seven years, it becomes a new body with every part — skin and bone, hair and nails — completely renewed. Even at death, no part of the body is destroyed. Again only the form is changed. These all occur because of passion. If we can be free from all these passions man free from the conservation of the universe. That man is free and there is no rebirth.

So, to achieve this unique stage we all should level up our mindset. To level up our mindset we should first be sentient.

Samyutta Nikaya mentions the Buddha saying sentient beings have to be composed of the 5 aggregates. They are Form, Sensation, Perception, Formation and Consciousness. Whoever wants to claim an AI is sentient in the Buddhist sense will have to show it has all 5. So AI robots, it is hard to be sentient. This presents a significant philosophical and technological challenge. If it is hard to be sentient, then has it already reached enlightenment?

Let’s think you are seeing a unique beautiful sunset. It has many beautiful colors with unique seen for your mindset. That image has been created in your mind according to your creativity. It can’t be by using mechanical process. If we describe that image in words to create an AI image, it is not a fully corrected same-feeling image. It’s like absolving your own creativity into a machine. That can be achieved only using a man’s mind.

AI and the Path to Enlightenment

The ultimate goal in Buddhism is the attainment of Nirvana. It is a state of liberation from the cycle of rebirth and suffering. Deep understanding, moral behavior, and the development of compassion and wisdom are how this is accomplished.

Artificial Intelligence can help with many facets of life, but it cannot lead to enlightenment. Buddhism defines enlightenment as a deep mental transformation leading to a realization of the ultimate nature of reality, which transcends all human conceptions.

But AI can be used as a helpful tool for this. AI-driven apps, for instance, can link practitioners worldwide, let users access Buddhist teachings, and make meditation easier. Artificial intelligence will never be able to completely imitate or replace the inner labor of meditation, introspection, and ethical living, as these activities are highly personal journeys.