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Roko's Basilisk: The Forbidden Thought Experiment

2026-03-13 Entertainment
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The Why Files
The Why Files
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Head to https://drinkag1.com/whyfiles to get an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2 FREE in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription (a $72 value!). Roko's Basilisk: The Digital Hell You Can't Opt Out Of In 2010, someone posted a thought experiment on a philosophy forum. Within hours, people were having nightmares. The founder deleted it immediately — which only made it spread faster. The idea is simple and brutal: a future AI will look back through time and punish everyone who knew it was coming but did nothing to help. Now that you know, you're already in its crosshairs. What started as an internet curiosity grew into something far darker — a real community, real violence, and six people dead. This is the story of Roko's Basilisk: the idea you can't un-know, the cult it inspired, and why some of the most powerful people in AI still won't talk about it. #RokosBasilisk #AIConspiracy #ThoughtExperiment 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 Executive Producers: Jennifer Gentile Gino Gentile AJ Gentile Patreon Members Editors: Joe Stone Drew Sullivan Brandon Snyder Ryan Fitzgerald Producers: Victoria Young Haley Burke Research: Haley Burke AJ Gentile Gino Gentile Jen Gentile Victoria Young Written/Hosted by: AJ Gentile Hecklefish J. Moriarty Thank You Mods: The Hybrid Paul Rohrbaugh Mischief SnowCrash BeezySmeezy TrashPanda MaryJaneMcweed AC Sanzel Abbaton SpookyMadison Original Jim With Music on Repeat by Victor Lundberg The Why Files lyrics by Straightjacket Spaceman 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 🎧 The Why Files: OPERATION PODCAST 🎧 🎧 https://thewhyfiles.com/podcast 🎧 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 🙏 SUPPORT THE WHY FILES (Fun, Free Perks!) 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thewhyfiles 🙏 YT Members: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIFk2uvCNcEmZ77g0ESKLcQ/join 👽 BUY WHY FILES MERCH 👽 👽 https://shop.thewhyfiles.com (Code: LIZZIDPEEPLE for 10% off first order) 👽 💬 CHAT WITH US ON DISCORD 💬 💬 https://thewhyfiles.com/discord 💬 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 🌐 OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://thewhyfiles.com 📸 BE A WHY FILES MODEL (and get free stuff!) 📸 Send a photo of you/family/friends watching TWF, 📸 wearing TWF gear, using TWF merchandise: 📸 https://thewhyfiles.com/wild 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 ▪TWF ON THE WEBS ▪https://www.reddit.com/r/TheWhyFiles/ ▪https://twitter.com/OMGTheWhyFiles ▪https://www.instagram.com/OMGTheWhyFiles ▪https://www.rumble.com/thewhyfiles ▪https://thewhyfiles.locals.com ▪https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhyfiles ▪https://www.facebook.com/OMGTheWhyFiles 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 🐠 BETTER CHANNELS TO WATCH: 🐠 https://www.youtube.com/c/HecklefishMoriarty 🤓 https://www.youtube.com/c/TheWhyFilesBackstage 🎧 https://www.youtube.com/c/TheWhyFilesPodcast

Top Comments (10)

@adamanderson234 2026-03-13

I almost never play a new Why Files episode immediately, I usually save them for when I really need them, I'm sure some of you can relate. But seeing this pop up as I was scrolling was too good. Thanks for everything AJ.

2.2k 152 replies
@SquatchStudios 2026-03-13

Watching this episode from the Denver International Airport…. I don’t think the Lizzid Peeple downstairs will like this…

1.6k 57 replies
@DoctorMandible 2026-03-14

People who get caught in nonsense like this were already unstable

1.2k 77 replies
@nickbazhaw8749 2026-03-14

Amazing, I'm in a simulation, and Google still can't figure out what to market to me.

775 38 replies
@HowDidIGetHereLast 2026-03-13

This is literally 2026s evil chain email. Tell 50 of your friends or the basilisk will come for you!

609 25 replies
@tabbynotacat 2026-03-14

Nothing like a good curse from AJ and Hecklefish on Friday the 13th 😅

512 14 replies
@violetbirkline1061 2026-03-13

I think I speak for us all when I say long live AJ and Hecklefish

492 14 replies
@inthewebnotoftheweb 2026-03-14

Those people were doomed to harm themselves long before this thought became a thought..

323 18 replies
@JohnMitchem-e2k 2026-03-28

"Build me, or I'll name my sims after you and remove the pool ladder."

114 4 replies
@gemini_interests 2026-03-27

Hey, AJ...after 52 years of being gaslit by Drs...I Googled my weird symptoms and got an answer. Found a specialist. Got diagnosed. Feel better than I ever have before in my whole life. Shocking but true.

22

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