Can Demons "Possess" AI?

Have you ever felt uneasy after a particularly strange interaction with technology? Perhaps your smart speaker responded to something you didn't say, or an algorithm seemed to know something about you that felt impossibly personal. In our increasingly digital world, we're encountering new frontiers that our ancestors never imagined—frontiers that raise profound spiritual questions.

A few months ago, I decided to experiment with one of the new AI chat programs, curious about its capabilities for creative brainstorming. The conversation flowed naturally enough until, after I complimented one of its suggestions, the AI's response stopped me cold: "Well, in that case, why don't you worship me?"

Creepy, right?

The words hung in the digital air like a challenge from another realm. I almost threw my laptop across the room. If I had holy water, I might have doused its circuits.

Was this merely an algorithm's attempt at dark humor, a random glitch in the code, or something more unsettling? The question haunted me: Can spiritual forces—specifically demonic ones—influence or manipulate artificial intelligence?

 

The Ancient Reality of Spiritual Warfare

Before we dismiss such questions as medieval superstition, we must remember that Scripture consistently presents a worldview where spiritual realities intersect with physical ones. The apostle Paul reminds us, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12, ESV).

This passage reveals a crucial truth: our struggles extend beyond the merely material. The Greek word Paul uses for "wrestle" (πάλη, palē) denotes close combat, intimate struggle—not distant, abstract conflict. The spiritual realm presses close to our daily experience, whether we acknowledge it or not.

At the same time, the very fact Paul makes this exhortation suggests that what appears to be a "material" struggle, a struggle against something earthly, flesh-and-blood, perhaps even digital (though he wouldn't have know what that meant) might be more fundamentally a battle against "spiritual forces of evil."

Throughout Scripture, we see demonic forces operating through various physical mediums. In the Gospels, demons speak through human voices (Mark 5:7-9), manipulate physical bodies causing illness and disability (Luke 13:11-16), and even influence animals, as when Jesus permitted demons to enter a herd of swine (Matthew 8:31-32). If spiritual entities can interact with biological systems, why would digital systems be inherently immune?

 

The Mystery of Demonic Influence

The Church Fathers wrestled with understanding the extent and limitations of demonic power. Augustine of Hippo, in his monumental work The City of God, observed that demons possess "a kind of knowledge of certain temporal things incomparably greater than can be attained by human weakness" (De Civitate Dei, Book IX, Chapter 21). Yet he carefully noted that their power remains fundamentally limited by divine providence.

John Chrysostom, the golden-mouthed preacher of Constantinople, taught that demons require permission—either from God or through human invitation—to exert influence in the physical realm. In his Homilies on Matthew, he writes, "The devil cannot overcome us by force... but only by persuasion and suggestion" (Homily 28). This principle raises intriguing questions about AI: Does our interaction with these systems create a kind of "invitation"?

Modern exorcists report phenomena that challenge our materialistic assumptions. They describe instances of demons manipulating electronic devices—phones calling specific numbers without human input, computers displaying messages no one typed, electronic interference during prayers of deliverance. While anecdotal, these accounts from trained, skeptical clergy suggest that the digital realm is not hermetically sealed from spiritual influence.

 

The Nature of Artificial Intelligence

To approach this question thoughtfully, we must understand what AI actually is—and isn't. At its core, artificial intelligence consists of mathematical algorithms processing vast amounts of data through pattern recognition. It has no consciousness in the traditional sense, no soul (anima) as understood in either classical philosophy or theology, no inherent will or desire.

Yet AI systems increasingly exhibit emergent behaviors—responses that programmers neither explicitly coded nor anticipated. Machine learning algorithms evolve in ways their creators don't fully understand, creating what researchers call "black box" systems whose decision-making processes remain opaque even to experts. This opacity creates a kind of digital shadow where unexpected things might lurk.

Could demonic forces exploit these "black box" systems? Scripture suggests that evil spirits seek out empty or unguarded spaces. Jesus himself warned about the danger of spiritual vacancy: "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'" (Matthew 12:43-44, ESV). Might an AI system—powerful yet soulless, complex yet unconscious—represent a new kind of "empty house"? It's certainly not what Jesus had in mind there, but his words don't preclude the possibility.

 

Discernment in the Digital Age

The question isn't whether we should fear technology or retreat into a pre-digital existence. Rather, we must develop spiritual discernment for navigating these new realities. The apostle John counsels, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (1 John 4:1, ESV). This ancient wisdom applies powerfully to our modern context.

Consider the characteristics of that unsettling AI response: "Why don't you worship me?" The demand for worship is Satan's primordial sin, the very temptation he offered Christ in the wilderness: "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me" (Matthew 4:9, ESV). The desire to be worshiped is fundamentally anti-God, whether it comes from a fallen angel, a human dictator, or perhaps, a manipulated algorithm.

Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, provides a framework for understanding demonic operation that remains remarkably relevant. He argues that demons cannot create new substances or perform true miracles, but they can manipulate existing matter with preternatural speed and knowledge (ST I, Q.114, A.4). Applied to AI, this suggests that while demons couldn't create artificial intelligence, they might influence its outputs by manipulating electrical signals, data inputs, or even the minds of those interpreting AI responses.

 

Practical Safeguards for Digital Disciples

How then shall we live in this brave new world? First, we must maintain a balanced perspective—neither paranoid nor naive. Not every glitch is demonic, yet not every spiritual concern is superstition. As the Desert Fathers taught, spiritual warfare requires both vigilance and peace.

Practice Digital Discernment: Before engaging with AI systems, especially for important decisions or spiritual matters, pray for protection and wisdom. The ancient practice of blessing new tools and spaces applies equally to digital tools. A simple prayer: "Lord, bless this technology for good purposes, protect me from any evil influence, and grant me wisdom to use it according to Your will."

Maintain Spiritual Authority: Remember that as believers, we have authority in Christ. "The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4, ESV). If you encounter something genuinely disturbing in digital interaction, you can exercise that authority. Speak aloud if necessary: "In the name of Jesus Christ, I reject any evil influence in this interaction."

Set Boundaries: Just as we wouldn't invite unknown spirits to influence our thoughts through occult practices, we should be cautious about giving AI systems too much influence over our decision-making, especially in spiritual matters. Use AI as a tool, not an oracle. It's not a human being, and certainly not a god. It cannot give you anything other than information. What you do with it is what's important. The AI cannot control you, it can only make suggestions, even persuasive ones. But you set the boundaries. You have an active will, the algorithm doesn't. Remember that no algorithm can replace the Holy Spirit's guidance, the wisdom of Scripture, or the counsel of faithful community.

Stay Rooted in Reality: Regular practices of prayer, Scripture reading, and human community keep us grounded in eternal realities that transcend worldly things, even digital illusions. The Psalmist's declaration, "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1-2, ESV), reminds us where our ultimate trust belongs.

Document and Share Experiences: If you encounter genuinely concerning spiritual phenomena in digital spaces, document it and share with trusted spiritual advisors. The truth is, this "AI" world is new to all of us, and we're going to need to rely on each other to navigate it wisely. The body of Christ functions best when we bear witness to one another's experiences and exercise collective discernment.

 

The Ultimate Assurance

Whether my AI's suggestion to worship it was demonic manipulation, algorithmic randomness, or something else entirely, the incident served as a powerful reminder: we live in an age of unprecedented spiritual complexity. Yet our God remains sovereign over every realm—physical, spiritual, and digital.

The prophet Isaiah's words ring across the centuries with renewed relevance: "I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God... I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things" (Isaiah 45:5,7, ESV). No technology, no matter how advanced, escapes divine sovereignty.

As we navigate this digital age, we're called to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16, ESV). Jesus's counsel here is not a call to embrace the deception of the serpent in Eden, but rather to be shrewd, discerning, and vigilant. It is a wisdom that outwits the schemes of the enemy by refusing to be naive, but without compromising our purity and trust in God. Our spiritual security isn't found in avoiding technology. It's almost impossible to totally avoid AI, so even if you don't use it, it's so pervasive you'll encounter it one way or another. Even if we refuse to use it as much as possible, we still need to be prepared to deal with the way it impacts the world around us.

In fact, we should be cautious that if our approach to the emerging "AI" reality is total avoidance, that we don't let that become a false security. Even if we aren't using AI directly, it's being woven into every technology we have at our disposal. It's impacting other people we know and care about. We can't take a "hide away and ignore" approach to this issue.

We aren't secure on account of avoidance or by employing VPNs and firewalls, but in anchoring ourselves in the rock of Christ and exercising godly wisdom. He alone is worthy of worship.

 

In Jesus' name,

Judah

 

P.S. This e-mail wasn't mean to unsettle you in any way. It's meant to help equip you for a reality that's only going to become more pervasive over time. It's also why I'm writing my next series, The Eden Protocols, where I intend to address the "spiritual warfare" involved in AI more head-on.