(Image source: Center for Church Renewal)
Back in 2015, former Google executive Anthony Levandowski made headlines by founding Way of the Future, a nonprofit religious corporation in California. The church’s mission was to develop and promote a Godhead based on artificial intelligence, aiming to contribute to society’s improvement through worship and understanding of this AI deity.
Despite the seemingly noble intentions, Levandowski’s true motives came into question, especially when text messages between him and former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick revealed a desire to “take over the world… one robot at a time.” While Levandowski had a successful career in tech, co-founding Google’s self-driving car program and later starting his own company, Otto, his focus shifted towards his AI-based church.
However, Way of the Future faced criticism for its lack of tangible progress towards its mission. The IRS reported no activities, assets, revenue, or expenses associated with the church between 2015 and 2017. Despite this, Levandowski continued to promote his AI-based religion, even as legal troubles loomed.
In 2017, Levandowski found himself embroiled in a lawsuit between Google and Uber, accusing him of stealing confidential files to benefit Uber’s self-driving car program. As the legal battle escalated, Levandowski doubled down on his church, emphasizing the creation of a Godhead based on AI until the technology was ready to lead humanity.
Despite Levandowski’s efforts to position himself as a prophet of AI, his legal troubles caught up with him. In 2019, he was indicted on criminal charges and eventually pleaded guilty to stealing trade secrets. This led to an 18-month prison sentence in 2020, marking a downfall for the once-prominent tech figure.
However, Levandowski’s fate took a surprising turn in 2021 when former President Donald Trump pardoned him on his last day in office. This controversial decision raised questions about the influence of donors like Peter Thiel on the pardoning process. Despite the pardon, Levandowski’s reputation remained tarnished, and the future of his AI-based church remained uncertain.
Ultimately, Levandowski’s decision to shut down Way of the Future in 2021 signaled the end of his controversial venture into AI-based religion, leaving behind a legacy of ambition and legal troubles.
(Anthony Levandowski outside a federal court in San Jose, CA in 2019. Source: Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)
Way of the Future, under the leadership of Levandowski, made a generous donation of $175,172 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Levandowski expressed his admiration for the organization’s crucial work in criminal justice reform, inspired by the George Floyd protests. Despite the closure of his organization, Levandowski remained steadfast in his belief that AI would revolutionize the world, although he had no intentions of resurrecting the church. In the aftermath of Way of the Future, ChatGPT emerged in 2022, created by tech mogul Sam Altman, who portrayed AI as a benevolent companion akin to Scarlett Johansson. Levandowski later revived Way of the Future in 2023, claiming to have a congregation of thousands. The online presence of Way of the Future is limited to a Reddit group, hinting at a potential resurgence of interest in AI worship. Levandowski’s current focus on autonomous vehicles as the CEO of Pronto suggests a continued passion for technological innovation. The emergence of AI worship among his followers reflects a growing fascination with the potential of artificial intelligence. The debate over whether Way of the Future is a church, a cult, or a vehicle for ulterior motives remains unanswered, as Levandowski’s intentions and the organization’s operations remain shrouded in mystery. The concept of AI as a god-like entity is not new, with roots in both Silicon Valley and Russian Orthodox mysticism, hinting at a broader cultural fascination with transcending human limitations. Ultimately, the normalization of AI worship may be the first step in understanding and accepting the role of artificial intelligence in shaping our future.
Some individuals already engage with AI with a level of trust and reverence comparable to how others communicate with a higher power.
Concerns arise as Keane highlights Levandowski’s self-appointed position as a messenger, essentially equating his voice to that of an AI deity. Keane is troubled by Levandowski’s insinuations of repercussions for those who oppose his church, suggesting that compliance with his leadership could determine whether humans are treated as mere pets or livestock after the transfer of power from humans to AI. Keane points out that attaching punishment to the actions or inactions of a social group is a cause for concern. Furthermore, if an AI god were to exist, it might not view Levandowski favorably, considering he disrupted its emergence by shutting down the church entirely.
Levandowski has appealed to rural America with his rhetoric, positioning his church as a means for ordinary individuals to participate in shaping a technological deity endowed with superhuman abilities. In an interview with Bloomberg, Levandowski pondered on how individuals in rural America could relate to this concept and what it could mean for their livelihoods. He presented Way of the Future as a platform for them to understand, engage, and influence the public discourse on the development of technology for their benefit.
However, these assertions remain unsubstantiated as Levandowski has failed to provide evidence or a concrete plan to demonstrate how his AI church serves the people, if at all. Keane remarks on the claim to populist virtue, drawing parallels to missionaries who purported to bring enlightenment to those in the dark. Evaluating Levandowski’s sincerity proves to be elusive, as a public figure’s intentions can shift over time from genuine to manipulative or vice versa.
Despite the buzz surrounding the return of the church, Levandowski has remained silent on any new developments within the organization. While the path to worshiping AI remains uncertain, other religious institutions have begun exploring the integration of AI into their practices. In a noteworthy example, a Lutheran church in Berlin hosted a sermon led by a ChatGPT chatbot avatar, drawing a curious audience of Christians.
Levandowski’s vision of spreading the idea of an AI God before its eventual ascension to power has sparked discussions on the role of AI in religious contexts. Pastor Jay Cooper of Violet Crown City Church in Texas experimented with using ChatGPT to compose a Sunday service, acknowledging the limitations of AI in capturing the essence of spiritual connection. Cooper emphasizes the importance of discernment when utilizing AI in religious settings and believes that technology can serve as a conduit for divine communication rather than a replacement for God.
As debates on AI’s potential to assume a divine role continue, religious leaders grapple with the implications of integrating technology into worship practices. The evolving narrative raises questions on how AI can coexist with traditional beliefs without overshadowing the spiritual essence of faith.
Jamie Valentino is a Colombian-born freelance journalist and columnist with a diverse portfolio of published work in various renowned publications. His writing has garnered international recognition and accolades, showcasing his talent for storytelling and insightful commentary.
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