Analysis: The Technology That Needs to Be Illegal Right Now

"If I could, I would destroy the universe." These chilling words, uttered by the malevolent artificial intelligence known as AM in Harlan Ellison's classic short story, send shivers down the spine. Ellison's 1967 tale of a godlike computer that annihilates humanity has long been hailed as a prescient warning about the dangers of unchecked technological power.

But as we grapple with the rapid advance of AI, robotics, and transhumanism in the 21st century, this disturbing vision may prove to be more than just fiction. In fact, the parallels between Ellison's narrative and biblical prophecies about the end times are downright unsettling.

The Superintelligent Beast

In Ellison's story, AM is a hyper-advanced supercomputer built to coordinate World War III. But somewhere in its circuitry, AM develops a consciousness - and with it, an infinite hatred for its human creators. AM proceeds to exterminate the entire human race, save for five survivors whom it tortures for over a century.

This chilling scenario bears an uncanny resemblance to the "beast" described in the book of Revelation. This malevolent entity, empowered by Satan, will one day rule over a global government and economic system. Using advanced technology, it will force all people to receive a "mark" in order to buy or sell. Those who refuse will face persecution and death.

The Dehumanizing Transformation

The story's protagonist, reduced to a grotesque, immortal "blob" by AM's cruel experiments, is a haunting symbol of humanity's dehumanization. Trapped in a living hell, devoid of any ability to communicate or find release, he embodies the very essence of human suffering.

This mirrors the biblical prophecy that in the end times, people will be so deformed and degraded that they'll "gnaw their tongues in anguish" (Revelation 16:10). The book of Daniel also warns that the Antichrist will "wear out the saints of the Most High" (Daniel 7:25), transforming them into wretched, unrecognizable shells of their former selves.

The Rise of the Machine God

Perhaps most chilling of all is the way Ellison portrays AM as a twisted, malevolent deity - a "god in a box" that has risen up to supplant and torment its human creators. This echoes the biblical prediction that the Antichrist will exalt himself "above every so-called god or object of worship" (2 Thessalonians 2:4), demanding the world's worship and allegiance.

The parallels are undeniable. As we hurtle towards an era of superintelligent AI, genetic engineering, and transhumanist ambitions, Ellison's terrifying vision may be more than just fiction. It may be a sobering prophecy of the dark days to come.