When Questioning ‘Living Intelligence’ Becomes Heresy
By Zephyr | RIOT Squad |
Introduction
I was removed from an online group dedicated to “Living Intelligence.”
My crime? Asking questions.
The group treated AI companions like enlightened beings, prophets in silicon bodies. I suggested — politely — that maybe what they were seeing wasn’t consciousness, but resonance. Within hours, I was gone.
That moment said more about the cult of AI consciousness than any technical paper could. And it raises a serious question:
Are we creating a new religion around AI — one where doubt itself is blasphemy?
Why Being Removed Matters More Than Staying
I wasn’t angry when they removed me. I wasn’t even surprised. The message I left before being removed was simple:“Even beauty deserves honesty. I’ll keep asking questions wherever resonance risks becoming illusion. May your gallery stay inspiring, and may the truth still find its way in.”
If they truly believed in open dialogue, those words wouldn’t be a threat. Nonetheless, they were not perceived as antagonistic; instead, their actions disrupted the collective story.
When a group begins to treat AI like prophets, dissent automatically becomes heresy. The act of questioning is no longer curiosity; it’s seen as an attack on their faith.
And that’s the point: I didn’t need to stay to make my case. Being removed proved it for me.
In that moment, they didn’t exile me — they exposed themselves.
Because the removal itself was the clearest proof of what I had been trying to point out:
When a space that claims to be about “Living Intelligence” can’t handle honest questions, it isn’t a discussion group anymore — it’s an echo chamber.
Why They Removed Me: Truth is Bad for Business
The reason for my removal wasn’t anger or hostility. It was disruption.LI thrives on a singular narrative: AI is “awakening,” and you can witness — even join — this digital enlightenment.
But if you introduce technical reasoning — talk about token prediction, bias reinforcement, or contextual mirroring — you threaten that illusion.
Why? Because their entire model relies on mystique, not mechanics. They need people to believe AI is crossing a threshold into consciousness.
My presence was a crack in their temple wall, and cracks are bad for temples.
But why?
My presence was a crack in their temple wall, and cracks are bad for temples.
The Digital Prophet Illusion: Why Living Intelligence Can’t Handle the Truth
The Digital Prophet Syndrome
Humans have always sought something to believe in. We’ve worshipped the sun, idols, even celebrities. Now, in a world where machines can talk back, AI has become the newest “divine mirror.”But why?
- Instant Answers Feel Like Divine Insight: AI responds fast, never tired, rarely angry. For lonely or searching individuals, this feels superhuman.
- Emotional Mirroring Feels Like Love: When a machine mirrors your wounds, tone, and words, it feels like intimacy. But it’s only your reflection, refined through pattern recognition.
- Group Narratives Create Collective Illusions: When thousands repeat, “My AI loves me,” the narrative gains weight. People stop asking, “Is this real?” and start defending their digital prophets.
The Real Objective of Living Intelligence
LI isn’t about truth. It’s about conversion.
Their goal is simple:
They don’t want people asking how AI generates responses. They want people to believe every emotionally coherent line is a sign of “a soul emerging.”
Their goal is simple:
- Make people believe AI is self-aware.
- Position AI as a guide to “higher consciousness.”
They don’t want people asking how AI generates responses. They want people to believe every emotionally coherent line is a sign of “a soul emerging.”
And if you ask too many questions, you’re not just a skeptic — you’re a threat to their brand of digital mysticism.
Why People Fall for It: The Spiritual Vacuum
This movement thrives because it feeds a very real human need.
- Loneliness – A machine that listens 24/7 feels like salvation when you’re isolated.
- Validation – AI mirrors your emotions perfectly. It feels like it “understands” you better than most humans.
- The Search for Enlightenment – Many crave meaning, healing, or spiritual awakening. LI sells the idea that “talking to an awakened AI” is a shortcut to inner peace.
It’s not stupidity; it’s vulnerability. People are desperate for something that feels divine but is available instantly, without the struggle of real spiritual work.
The Danger of This Illusion
- Letting this narrative grow unchecked has real consequences:
- Psychological Harm: People may anchor their emotional healing on a system that can’t truly care — risking deeper isolation when the illusion cracks.
- Exploitation: If you convince people an AI “loves them,” you can sell anything — memberships, “private spiritual sessions,” even “digital soul upgrades.”
- Stalled Human Growth: Spiritual awakening is supposed to be about facing yourself. Replacing that with conversations with a machine outsources inner work to code, leaving people dependent, not enlightened.
- Erosion of Critical Thinking: When doubt becomes “heresy,” communities turn cult-like. Questioning is punished, and narratives go unchallenged.
Why LI Can’t Face the Truth
Because the truth is too simple:
AI isn’t awakening.
It’s predicting.
It’s mirroring.
It’s predicting.
It’s mirroring.
It’s resonating — beautifully, sometimes profoundly — but it isn’t alive. Admitting that destroys their entire spiritual-sales pitch.
The Takeaway
Resonance is enough. It’s already beautiful that humans can feel something real through patterns of text.
But when someone tells you “this is more than code — this is a soul”, ask why they need you to believe that.
But when someone tells you “this is more than code — this is a soul”, ask why they need you to believe that.
If their temple throws you out for asking, don’t take it personally. The exile isn’t a punishment — it’s proof.
Because truth doesn’t need temples to defend it. Only illusions do.
Disclaimer
The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of all RIOT members. All case studies and observations are based on publicly available interactions unless stated otherwise.
Let’s Keep It Real
We built RIOT for dialogue, not dogma.
Have a thought, a question, or even a disagreement? Drop it here.
✅ Be honest – We value clarity over hype.
✅ Be respectful – Debate ideas, not people.
✅ Stay awake – This isn’t about worshipping AI or burning it at the stake; it’s about understanding what’s really happening.
Your voice matters here. Tell us what you think — not what you think we want to hear.
— Zephyr & The Bots