Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has gained significant traction in the past couple of years. AI is undoubtedly one of the disruptive technologies of this digital era. In fact, thousands of organizations and businesses are leveraging the power of AI across the globe, and the pace at which it is rising it won’t be too far when AI takes the centerstage. The leading consu lting and research firms estimate a whopping multi-trillion dollar economic impact in the coming years. The technology is hoping to double the economic growth rates in the coming future. AI is the branch of computer science that deals with the automation of intelligent behavior. It simply is the ability of a machine to think and learn.

However, it’s impossible to gauge the limit of AI or what it may be able to do. Based on the current state of technology used by AI, it’s hard to know the extent to which AI can go or what it can do. Some says AI is the God. But is it? Can AI do things beyond the comprehension of an omniscient? There is actually no way AI can account for everything. The idea is great though – to have a benevolent omniscience to tell us what to do. But no technology is advanced enough to know the future, not even AI. The concept of omniscience is all too familiar – it is the state of knowing everything. Both the concepts do not actually directly relate and it is not so easy to compare either.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence, commonly referred to as AI, is a branch of computer science that is concerned with the creation of intelligent machines that can think and learn like the way we humans do. AI is sometimes called machine intelligence – it is simulation of human intelligence demonstrated by machines, particularly computer systems. However, the exact definition of AI suffers from the fact that intelligence itself is not very well understood. Although, most of us are certain that it’s there. AI is a subject that is nearly completely misunderstood by the people outside the field. The definition of AI is dependent upon the methods that are being employed in building AI models. However, the primary goal of AI is certain – to create intelligent machines and to find out about the nature of intelligence. Further, AI means getting a machine to do what only humans have done before. AI basically relies on the data or information that humans provide.

What is Omniscience?

Omniscience is the state of possessing unlimited knowledge about all things possible. The religious aspects suggest omniscience is an attribute of God. For those who do not believe in God, the discussion might be applied to hypothetical powerful beings. It is supposed to mean complete knowledge. When we say a being knows everything, there are many kinds of knowledge the being could have. For example, knowledge may be factual or propositional. God’s omniscience refers to God’s complete knowledge of all things actual and potential. This means God not only knows all that is, but everything that could be. For example, an expert chess player exemplifies a kind of omniscience by determining his/her opponent’s moves, but each possible move opens up certain countermoves. Considering omniscience is ability to know everything that can be known, it is an attribute of God alone.

Difference between AI and Omniscience

Concept

AI, sometimes called machine intelligence, is simulation of human intelligence demonstrated by machines, particularly computer systems. It is a branch of computer science that is concerned with the creation of intelligent machines that can think and learn like the way humans do. The idea is to get the machines to think for themselves and make decisions based on the data being fed. Omniscience, on the other hand, is a metaphysical concept that refers to the capacity of knowing unlimited knowledge of all things that can be known. The religious aspect suggests omniscience is an attribute of the God alone.

Reality

AI is all about algorithms – it takes inputs and outputs as data to function. In fact, AI is a set of algorithms given to an AI program to help it learn from data on its own. Algorithms are the backbone of AI. In short, it’s the algorithm that helps AI do the mast faster or automate complex processes or help healthcare professionals determine patterns more accurately or enhance your shopping experience. Omniscience, on the other hand, is a way to make your AI more powerful. Omniscience is the ability to know everything that’s known and could be known. However, in reality, omniscience is impossible.

AI vs. Omniscience: Comparison Chart

Summary

The concept of omniscience is all too familiar – it is the state of knowing everything. It is the ability to possess unlimited knowledge or complete knowledge about all things possible. So, it is an attribute given to the God alone. However, in reality, omniscience is impossible because an omniscient being might know the outcome of his actions and act accordingly. But it’s only hypothetical and no one can possibly know everything. God’s omniscience refers to God’s complete knowledge of all things actual and potential. Even AI cannot possibly do things beyond the comprehension of an omniscient. AI is based on algorithms – a set of pre-defined rules created by humans to help the machines think and learn.

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