Why Anthropic is turning to religion to shape Claude’s values, and asking if AI can be conscious

Anthropic, an AI company preparing for a potential IPO valued at $2 trillion, has been meeting with religious leaders to help guide its AI system Claude's moral and spiritual development. These meetings have sparked debates about whether AI systems can be conscious and deserving of moral consideration. Anthropic's co-founder, Christopher Olah, was present when Pope Leo unveiled his encyclical on AI, which warns against the blind adoption of AI and emphasizes the primacy of the human person.

This approach is part of Anthropic's broader effort to shape Claude's moral character by drawing on religious and philosophical traditions. However, some industry figures, like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have expressed discomfort with attributing religious power to AI models. Despite this, Anthropic is increasingly seeking religious perspectives on what its systems should value, as people are already turning to these AI systems for advice and information.