Roko's Basilisk is a high-stakes thought experiment originating from the LessWrong forum in 2010. It suggests that a future, all-powerful artificial intelligence (the Basilisk) might retroactively punish those who knew of its potential existence but failed to contribute to its creation. Within internet culture, the meme often represents the concept of 'forbidden knowledge' or the ironic horror of being trapped in a logical paradox simply by hearing about it. In meme usage, it is typically paired with images of existential dread, panic, or sycophantic praise for future AI to 'appease' the hypothetical entity and avoid eternal digital torment.