Roko’s Basilisk is essentially a scarier version of Pascal’s Wager.

Roko’s Basilisk argues that you should dedicate your full time and energy to the research and development of a hyper intelligent AI. This is because, Roko posits, if such an AI is ever realized, it will retroactively punish(by way of eternal torment) anyone who knew about its potential existence and did nothing to aid in its creation.

Even if there is a small chance that such an AI is ever developed, the punishment is too great to take any chances.

Pascal’s Wager argues that you should devote yourself to God because if there is a chance He really exists, then you will go to Heaven rather than face eternal damnation in Hell.

Even if there is only a small chance of God’s existence, why risk being damned to Hell? Might as well devote yourself to and accept God into your life.