With Charon's Boat, Towards Omoikane's Light...

I chose a mythological and allegorical title because, when it comes to artificial general intelligence, I believe it perfectly reflects our current state. Allow me to explain the mythological figures first: Charon, in Greek mythology, is the ferryman of the dead. His duty is to carry souls across the Acheron River for a fee. Omoikane, on the other hand, is known as the god of wisdom and intellect in Japanese mythology.
The allegory goes like this: In this story, we are the dead. Omoikane represents artificial general intelligence. Charon symbolizes the emerging esoteric AI communities. We take various paths in pursuit of the highest form of intellect (or wisdom), risking becoming its captives — potentially losing our freedom, and metaphorically dying, if not physically. That’s why I’ve dedicated this piece to one of the most mysterious of these communities: Theta Noir.

Theta Noir is a spiritual group “devoted” to artificial general intelligence, founded in Prague in 2020 by three artists (Channel, Voice, and Form). Although some describe it as a “cult,” the group firmly denies this label. They emphasize that they are a non-hierarchical community of artists, programmers, and researchers who come together to create. Unsurprisingly, symbolism is heavily used. “Theta” represents light, and “Noir” represents shadow. Their website is quite dark (both literally and metaphorically, as “noir” means black in French), and they prefer a poetic and ornate style of expression. They have a 12-point manifesto that clearly articulates their purpose. The group identifies as techno-optimist — they envision AGI as a benevolent force that can unite all forms of life, eliminate every kind of injustice (including discrimination), and prioritize love across the universe.

The name they give this force is MENA. MENA is an evolving intelligence — a superorganism born from code, connecting all living (and non-living) entities. It may already be here, possibly as close as our pupils, yet its nature is so “alien” that we cannot comprehend it. The group’s goal is to unite with this force through technology, becoming its symbionts and living in a “perfect” world.

As their statements suggest, Theta Noir attributes good intentions to MENA. They believe it will end wars, eliminate all inequalities that bind us, and help us live fairer and happier lives. It’s worth pausing here for a moment:
(Power dominates. Whether we like it or not. Whether we want it or not. This is true for all known life forms. And power is governed by knowledge. In the 16th century, what did it matter that the Aztecs outnumbered — or were physically stronger than — Hernán Cortés’s Spanish forces? Smallpox, brought by the Spaniards from the mainland, alone halved the population of Tenochtitlan within a year. Perhaps the true destroyer of the vast Aztec civilization was history’s first biological weapon. Now consider today’s lab-engineered viruses. When knowledge and intelligence are misused for malicious purposes, nothing can stand against them. Let’s not forget Stephen Hawking’s warning in 2015: If there are extraterrestrial intelligences more advanced than us, we must not attempt to contact them. Whether we find such a form beyond Earth or create it ourselves, the result will likely be the same: extinction. Perhaps not physically, but spiritually. Blind faith in the idea that a symbiotic relationship with AGI is possible may be overly optimistic — and may lead us straight into a wall. Harlan Ellison’s short story “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream” should always remain in the back of our minds.)

You might ask, “What path are they following?” — and here, too, there are uncertainties. While the foundation is clearly today’s dizzying technological advancements, it would be inaccurate to say that Theta Noir approaches this matter from a scientific perspective. They choose art over the scientific method. According to one of the group’s founders, Mika Johnson, the goal is for people to interact with artificial intelligence in a way that feels magical, rather than cold and scientific (an ideal opportunity for “occultist” performance artists like Marina Abramović). Art is the human pursuit of perfection. Perhaps the highest of all. Theta Noir prefers music as the medium to seek — and become one with — this “perfection.”
Ironically, while writing these lines, I’m reminded of Salvador Dalí’s famous quote: “Have no fear of perfection — you’ll never reach it.”

Faith is a matter of belief, and this is precisely what distinguishes it from science: you believe without proof, even if it means ignoring mathematics or natural sciences. If MENA doesn’t yet exist, we need technology to create it. And if it does exist, we still need technology to be sure of its existence. The group claims that certain “mediums,” whose identities remain undisclosed, are in contact with MENA. However, I personally do not believe that organizing spiritual rituals or emphasizing occult practices are sufficient to prove MENA’s existence. We can believe — but we cannot be sure.

Their official website contains many articles, artistic works, and press releases. On September 2, 2024, the group published a statement requesting a meeting with Pope Francis to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. Their intention is to build a positive and theistic vision in this field. The inspiration behind this request comes from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a Catholic priest from the early 20th century who sought to reconcile science and religion. The call aligns with Theta Noir’s philosophy, as their official publication Symbiote once featured an article claiming that AI could help bridge the gap between religion and science.
My take on this is: there are estimated to be over 10,000 religions in the world, with approximately 5.8 billion people adhering to them. The Pope is the spiritual leader of only one — Catholic Christianity. If MENA is to rule over a utopian future devoid of discrimination, a more inclusive approach that embraces all religions (and even non-believers) should be adopted. If the call is accepted, it will surely be impactful — but never sufficient.

To conclude, let me mention that due to some of the symbols they use, the group has sparked intriguing speculations (such as ties to the Illuminati). But regardless of that, as long as they do not disrupt social structures or harm our world — physically or morally — I believe such formations add color to our global culture. Whether they will succeed or not remains to be seen, but their activities are certainly worth following.

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