For many people reading this article, the very title would appear to be either “confusing” or simply a matter of “travesty.” After all, “What age-old-Vedic-knowledge has to offer in this digital and planetary age?” However, if you are willing to hear me out, without being outright judgmental, you may find a great many fascinating aspects that not just lead to the very existence of digital technologies but could even help them transform beyond anyone’s expectations.

The word “Digital” comes from the root word “Digit”. It is above all a combination of Zeros and Ones. In case you are not aware, zero is not a modern, but ancient Indian (Vedic) discovery. To prove that the Vedic people knew about zero, consider Sahasra Shishu or Hundred Babies, who were born of Dhritarashtra according to Vyasya in Mahabharata. Also, the word Sahasra or One hundred and Eka Dasha or Eleven in Rig Veda. How could the Vedic people count beyond ten without zero?

The Vedic Sanskrit word शून्यं (Shunyam) implies Zero. According to the Rishis who discovered it, Shunyam is that which is not there, but there as well, as that which is nothing by itself, yet that which makes everything possible. For the Rishis, Zero in Science & Mathematics is like our Conscious Self or Atman in the living being. Neither Science nor Mathematics is possible without zero, nor can life happen without Atman.

The Vedic Sanskrit word शून्यं (Shunyam) implies Zero. According to the Rishis who discovered it, Shunyam is that which is not there, but there as well as that which is nothing by itself, yet that which makes everything possible. For the Rishis, Zero in Science & Mathematics is like our Conscious Self or Atman in the living being. Neither Science nor Mathematics is possible without zero nor can life happen without Atman.

Thinking is made possible through Thoughts which in turn come from the Mind, which is made possible, by our Conscious Self or Atman. Since machines are made by the mind, even the digital world owes its existence to our Conscious Self. Without real intelligence emanating from the mind, which in turn happens because of the Conscious Self, Artificial Intelligence is, simply put not just impossible, but also irrelevant. Machines are mere tools without consciousness, they can remain in existence only when there are people seeking their utility. Without humans, machines – no matter how smart they may be – would remain redundant.

A great many academicians recently have been busy frantically predicting the possible chaos owing to rise in Artificial Intelligence. They claim that countless people will lose their jobs, in the next couple of years, which they fear will also lead to rise in poverty rates. But is that a sensible assessment?

Consider this scenario: Before the advent of motor vehicles, there were bullock carts powered by bullocks, but steered by the humans. But when the cars came into existence, humans steered cars. Now, that self-driven cars are coming to be a reality; people’s driving skills may certainly be redundant, but not the people themselves. There is a clear difference; one that is overseen by those fearful of the rise in AI.

Artificial Intelligence or AI can only make Human Skills irrelevant, at best, never humans. What this implies is that: if we as humans desire to coexist with machines we need to find what machine cannot do in practice. This means thinking beyond commands & instructions, which are fundamentals of AI architecture. Also, the current AI still cannot work without programs and commands – popularly known as Machine Learning or ML. This means that, AI is like almost like a domesticated animal – which needs to be trained. Training is obedience; it is not education and, therefore, is not nearly as intelligent as any average human mind.

Artificial Intelligence or AI can only make Human Skills irrelevant, at best, never humans. What this implies is that: if we as humans desire to coexist with machines we need to find what machine cannot do in practice. This means thinking beyond commands & instructions, which are fundamentals of AI architecture. Also, the current AI still cannot work without programs and commands – popularly known as Machine Learning or ML. This means that AI is like that of a domesticated animal – which needs to be trained. Training is obedience; it is not education and, therefore, is not nearly as intelligent as any average human mind.

Start-up that speak of Machine Learning are fundamentally about instructing machines to master specific tasks. Machines cannot possibly learn until they imitate human mind, which in turn is impossible, until humans understand their own mind, themselves, first & foremost.

Machine Learning, to become truly advanced, scientists need to know the mind. The mind is not a brain. Modern scientists still fail to differentiate between the two. Since Vedic texts are only works that explains mind and everything it manifests, grounding in Vedic knowledge is the key, for making the next transition in Artificial Intelligence as well as Machine Learning.