God and Golem talks of relation of cybernetics with religion.

Its writer, Norbert Wiener, focuses on three main points in the book. He talks about 1) Machines which can learn, 2) Idea of reproduction in machines and 3) Coordination between machine and man. His puts forward a set of arguments that show that science of cybernetics has analogies with some religious concepts. In science fiction films, we see ample amount of portrayal of the three points which writer makes (e.g. Terminator series, The Matrix etc.). But in todays age, when humankinds hopes are touching skies, many have actually stared to believe that all this science fiction will become science one day. Idea of learning machines has undergone intense research and scientists have come up with the most brilliant machine learning algorithms and their applications. But despite all this research, it is still extremely hard for computer to duplicate functions of our vital organs like eye (human eye can see in 3D, or in other words perceive depth but it is very hard for a computer to perceive depth in a 2D picture, which is childs play for any person). We already have machines making another machines in automated assembly lines and you can very well make an amusing conversation with iPhones Siri. If the field of cybernetics grows into a very advanced and sophisticated science, it will lead to many complications. If humans end up creating machines which can create other machines in their own image, then very complicated philosophical problems will emerge. For example, will human moral values apply to machines? Will those machines feel a subjective sense of self as we humans do? Will the machines be only compositions of complex circuits or will they be alive? For us, being alive is something very distinct. If we take a man apart and put him back together exactly as before, he will remain as dead as when we took him apart. But this will not apply to machines. They will become alive once assembled and powered up! Today, we as humans assume very special status when it comes to comparison with other races. It is tough to imagine that cybernetic organisms can act beyond the realm of their algorithm, have free will or ponder over grave philosophical questions. We have a subjective sense of ourselves (i.e. we know that we exist) but it is quite difficult to articulate an idea of a machine that will be able to do the same. I agree with the points writer makes, because technologically, it seems very much plausible that machines which can learn, reproduce and communicate efficiently will be conceived. But I find it very hard believe that cybernetic organisms will ever come close to the essence which we so immensely pride ourselves upon, humanness.