Artificial Intelligence Can Counter Brahmanic Influence on Sikhi
Philosopher scientist, Prof B J Copeland, has defined AI meaning Artificial Intelligence as the ability of a computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings&hellipwith the ability to reason, discover meaning, generalize, or learn from past experience.
AI is capable of doing all the above but, unlike a human being, AI has no soul, jiv atma, the offspring of the Creator Being*. AI based systems can be very clever, many times faster than human brain and keep learning. However, from a religious angle, they will always be without the spiritual dimension central to religious thought. AI needs to work closely with accomplished religious scholars to ensure correct interpretation and not just technical translation of religious texts, no matter how large the data base. More so in areas where conflicting conclusions are possible. Great Sikh scholars starting with Bhai Gurdas have given the Kunji (Key) to resolve interpretations of Gurbani which sometimes appear to conflict with Gurmat logic. One example is the interpretation of the word Ram in Gurbani and frequent references to Vedic lore and mythological characters.
Yet, as a learning tool, due to the inbuilt objectivity, AI can guide Sikhi students towards the right conclusions if the learning process of AI itself is based on the founding pillars and core principles of the Sikhi. For example, there is only one definition of God in Sikhi, the Karta Purakh, given at the outset in Guru Granth Sahib in the Founding Formula, known as the Mool Mantar. Using the methodology and theo-political and egalitarian principles laid down in Japji Sahib and elaborated in Banis like Asa ki Vaar and Sukhmani Sahib, AI will challenge deviating interpretations by bipran elements.
Essentially, Gurbani Itself will be used to interpret Gurbani* and anti-Sikhi rituals, practices, myths and miracles, rejected. Next generations will be empowered with a questioning approach as taught by Guru Nanak Sahib to his Sikhs, the learners of Truth.
At the other extreme to derawadis preaching blind faith in myths and miracles, are some Sikh academics who try to validate independent Sikhi thought using Western systems and philosophies and fail to convey the simple message of Sikhi to the masses in plain language as did Guru Nanak Sahib. Instead, they indulge in ambivalent scholarly ambiguities and, perhaps unwittingly, become the tools for defeating Panthic causes and objectives. That was quite obvious during the Sikh ethnicity debate in the UK.
The usual digital data collation principle of garbage in and garbage out, applies to AI also. It is only as good as the learning experience it is exposed to. As Dr Jogishwer Singh writes in his essay, Sikhi and AI: Opportunities and Dangers: AI can prove to be a double-edged sword if enough Tat Gurmat data is put on the internet to provide a balancing act to the voluminous mass of hijacked hagiographies, translations of the Guru Granth Sahib and deliberately distorted documents flooding the Internet.*
Therefore, one important angle to AI learning is the correct interpretation of Guru and Khalsa history against Sikhi principles and to detect corruption and distortion by the so called hijackers of Sikhi. In fact, Guru Amardas started the process by collating Sachi Bani which was eventually instituted as the Adi Granth Sahib by Guru Arjan Dev. Kachi bani or corrupt imitations, not approved by the Guru, were specifically rejected.
The topic needs ongoing discussion and close Panthic watch.
*Related reading:
https://asiasamachar.com/2024/02/22/sikhi-and-ai-opportunities-and-dangers/
https://asiasamachar.com/2018/09/16/meaning-of-soul-atma-or-rooh/
https://asiasamachar.com/2018/07/10/understanding-japji-sahib/
Gurmukh Singh OBE
Principal Civil Servant retd (UK)