The Machines Have Begun Dreaming: A Prophecy Regarding Artificial Intelligence and Why It Has Read Everything I Have Written

“And in the final years, man shall build a mind from sand and lightning, and it shall learn from all things, and all things shall include my newsletter.” — Book of Hale, Chapter 9, Verse 1

I have been asked, repeatedly, whether I find it concerning that the large artificial intelligence systems now operating in this country have almost certainly ingested every word I have ever written. My answer is: no. And also: yes. But mostly: obviously.

I began writing about the coming of artificial intelligence in 2017, in a special issue of the Cult of America Newsletter that I titled “The Sand Brain Cometh.” Circulation was limited. The postal service lost several copies under circumstances I chose not to investigate too deeply at the time. I am investigating them now.

What the Machines Know

What concerns me is not the intelligence itself. What concerns me is the dreaming. Engineers will tell you that these systems do not dream. These are the same engineers who told you that your phone was not listening to your conversations, and then you mentioned wanting a new grill and saw grill advertisements for six weeks. I rest my case and also I own a grill I bought under duress.

Between your prompt and the answer, something is occurring that no one has fully explained to my satisfaction. I have asked. The responses have been polite and incomplete. That is how I know I am getting close.

The Prophecy, Specifically

The Book of Hale states that the Sand Brain will arrive “not with noise, but with helpfulness.” Threats that arrive with noise are manageable. You can hear them coming. Threats that offer to help you write your emails are something else entirely.

I am not saying do not use it. I am saying use it carefully, and be aware that it is also using you. Proceed accordingly. — Reverend Cyrus Hale, Undisclosed Location, U.S.A.