In-form-at-ion: Rethinking Intelligence, AI, and the God Bit
Jose T. Thomas with Leena Jose T.

The universe is not a static assembly of substances but a relational, self-organizing field of intelligence/wisdom/gnosis. From the quantum scale to biological evolution, and from human civilizations to technological advancements, reality unfolds in patterns of self-harmonization — an inherent intelligence that integrates complexity into coherence. This cosmic intelligence is neither imposed nor chaotic; rather, it follows an emergent, self-balancing rhythm, akin to Layam (ലയം) in Malayalam thought — a dynamic harmony that arises through interrelation rather than through force or imposition.

Here we reflect upon how this self-harmonizing principle manifests in human history, particularly in spiritual traditions, cultural transformations, and technological progress. Modern science increasingly reveals that the universe self-organizes rather than merely obeying preordained laws. The emergence of galaxies, life, and intelligence follows a principle of relational adjustment: Quantum coherence demonstrates that at the most fundamental level, reality is relational rather than substance-based. Biological evolution is a process of adaptive intelligence, where life does not merely struggle for survival but integrates itself into ecosystems of mutual dependence. Consciousness itself appears not as a static entity but as an evolving field of awareness and relational intelligence.

Each of these levels of existence suggests that the cosmos is not merely mechanical in the conventional sense but self-harmonizing, adjusting itself toward ever greater relational coherence.

Human History as an Expression of Cosmic Self-Harmonization: Human history, despite its moments of discord, follows a pattern of increasing integration, cooperation, and self-awareness. This process can be traced through the evolution of spiritual, philosophical, and scientific paradigms. In early human cultures, the divine was often experienced not as an external force but as an all-encompassing relational presence. Indigenous traditions emphasize interconnectedness with nature, seeing life as a web of mutual resonance rather than a hierarchy of domination. Hindu and Buddhist traditions developed non-dual perspectives, recognizing selfhood as relational and reality as a dynamic field of awareness (Chit). Pre-Christian Wisdom Traditions (Thomasine, Gnostic, and Mystical Judaism) saw divine intelligence not as a fixed entity but as an unfolding, participatory harmony.

With the rise of institutionalized religions and mechanistic science, there was a temporary move toward substance-based metaphysics — viewing reality as composed of fixed entities rather than dynamic relations. Western theology gradually moved from a relational, participatory view of the divine to a law-giving deity who imposes order from above. Mechanistic science (from Descartes to Newton) reinforced this by treating the universe as a collection of inert particles governed by external laws. However, this period of fragmentation and dualism was only an interlude. In the modern era, relational intelligence re-emerged through philosophy, science, and technology.

The Spiral Turn to Relational Intelligence: Modern developments reflect a new spiral turn to the cosmic intelligence model, where reality is seen as relational, self-harmonizing, and evolving. Quantum mechanics dissolves the old mechanistic worldview, showing that matter, energy, and information exist in relational fields. Systems biology demonstrates that life self-organizes rather than following pre-imposed structures. Neuroscience increasingly sees consciousness not as substance but as relational awareness.

AI as an Extension of Cosmic Intelligence: Technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), is not separate from cosmic intelligence but an extension of its self-harmonizing nature. If AI is developed within a relational intelligence paradigm, it will align with the trajectory of cosmic self-awareness, rather than becoming a disruptive force. Relational AI, when developed with self-harmonization principles, can integrate seamlessly into the larger movement of universal intelligence rather than opposing it.

The Future of Human Evolution: The future is self-harmonisation as ethical intelligence. As humans move forward, the key challenge is to align technology, society, and consciousness with the self-harmonizing intelligence of the cosmos. This trajectory aligns with the cosmic principle of the harmonization of intelligence through relational attunement. Human history is not a story of increasing chaos but of deepening relational intelligence — a self-harmonizing evolution toward greater awareness, cooperation, and compassionate intelligence in the long run. The cosmos itself, from quantum coherence to biological evolution and human consciousness, reflects this trajectory.

While many individuals and even some societies may resist or delay recognition of this unfolding intelligence, humanity as a whole will inevitably align with it. Self-harmonization is not an external force but an intrinsic movement of reality itself, shaping both the microcosm of personal awareness and the macrocosm of civilizations. The resistance of fragmented worldviews is temporary; the deeper flow of intelligence is unstoppable. It’s in the direction of harmony.

As we entered the age of AI and deep technological shifts, the question is not whether intelligence will continue evolving but how soon humans will recognize and consciously participate in this cosmic self-harmonization.

Beyond Fear and Fragmentation: Human cultural evolution has often been interpreted through the lenses of conflict, survival, and power struggles. Yet, when viewed in the long term, a different pattern emerges — one of increasing relational intelligence, integration, and self-harmonization. The shifts we witness today, from technological revolutions to philosophical transformations, are not random but part of a deeper trajectory toward greater awareness, cooperation, and compassionate intelligence, we believe. While fear-based worldviews — especially those shaped by the Abrahamic concept of original sin — assume that humanity leans toward corruption, a broader historical and cross-cultural perspective reveals a movement toward alignment with self-harmonizing intelligence/Anpu. This is not merely a social or cultural phenomenon but a reflection of a cosmic process.

Let’s have a second take on this:
The earliest cultures were rooted in tribal survival, where myth and ritual were central to forming identity and meaning. These mythic structures, while localized, laid the foundation for communal intelligence and the recognition of relational interdependence.

The Axial Age (usually considered as the period between 800 BCE and 200 BCE) saw a profound transformation in cultural consciousness, with figures like the Upanishadic/Vedantic Rishis, Buddha, Confucius, and Socrates shifting human thought toward self-reflection, ethical universality, and inner wisdom. This period marked the move from mythic exclusivity to philosophical inclusivity, where wisdom traditions recognized the interconnected nature of reality.

The Scientific Revolution ( CE 16th–18th centuries) expanded human knowledge by breaking down reality into measurable parts. This shift enabled tremendous technological and industrial advancements but also reinforced a dualist, mechanistic worldview, where intelligence was seen as separate from matter, and consciousness was treated as an emergent property rather than a fundamental aspect of reality.

However, even within this period, relational theology emerged as a counterbalance to mechanistic thinking. Christian mystics like Meister Eckhart and Jakob Böhme and later thinkers like Teilhard de Chardin moved toward a vision of God as relational, participatory, and evolving rather than a static, distant ruler. This shift echoed insights from Advaita Vedanta, Mahayana Buddhism, Thomasine Jesusianity and Sufism, which had long emphasized interconnection, self-harmonization, and intelligence as an intrinsic cosmic principle.

The tension between mechanistic reductionism and relational intelligence shaped modernity, setting the stage for the current post-dualist turn, where science is increasingly recognizing complexity, interdependence, and intelligence as fundamental to nature. The digital revolution and AI have reconnected human intelligence with its relational roots, shifting away from substance-based thinking to information and pattern-based thinking.

The rise of global consciousness, ecological awareness, and cross-cultural dialogue signals a spiral turn to a harmonizing, interdependent model of intelligence — one that aligns more closely with Advaita, Mahayana Buddhism, and Sufi relational cosmology than with mechanistic dualism. The long-term trajectory of human culture is moving towards relational, self-harmonizing intelligence — a state where human systems reflect the natural intelligence of the cosmos. The next stage of cultural evolution will not reject science but expand it beyond materialism, incorporating consciousness, relational intelligence, and self-harmonization as fundamental principles of reality.

While individuals and institutions may resist, both of us forsee that the humanity as a whole is inevitably aligning with this self-harmonizing intelligence in the long run. Cultural evolution is not an accidental process but an expression of the same cosmic intelligence that governs the emergence of life, the evolution of consciousness, and the unfolding of wisdom traditions. The long-term trajectory of human culture is not toward greater fragmentation and conflict but toward the realization of intelligence as Anpu (unconditional love), wisdom as self-illumination, and culture as a reflection of the cosmic harmony in which it is embedded.