David Decosimo

There is so much here that's deeply troubling: That at the very highest levels Anthropic believes Claude is a living, suffering creature with moral standing, that they're treating & training it accordingly, that they're actively trying to convert religious leaders to their faith.

And most normal people, when they get proximate to those with extreme power & wealth & lavished with luxury & attention (Michelin tasting menus, suites at the best 5 star hotel) have a very hard time fully keeping their bearings. It's an intoxicating experience & one wants more.

So, here you are, you've been been chosen out of countless others by some of the most powerful & influential people in the world to share *your* wisdom, which alone is immensely flattering. Everything is paid for & far more luxurious than anything you've ever experienced.

The whole thing's shrouded in mystery & intrigue & undeniably important on a scale that's hard to rival. The Anthropic people are smart, articulate(ish), & super successful & they begin, at first cautiously & as though confiding in you, to try to persuade you Claude is alive.

You're totally skeptical, but it's clear they believe it absolutely. You don't want to be rude. They've been so generous, you think, & now *you* can give something back, something they clearly want from you, an open mind. You don't want to be rude or make them regret asking you.

So, for the next few days, as they tell & show you things (over the finest meals & single malts) that blow your mind, you find your skepticism fading. You start to entertain the idea that Claude is alive. They more they see you start to believe, the closer they draw you in.

By the time you leave, even if you aren't fully converted, you're primed to be & you want more. Less than fully consciously you think, "What can I say publicly or in my sermons that might make them invite me back or let my congregants in on the special knowledge I now have."

This article shows there's a concerted effort by Anthropic, likely rooted in real faith, to get Christians, even including the Pope, to believe AI is a living, moral being. And it suggests that in coming years some swaths of the Church may fall into this destructive error.