OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has pushed back against religious analogies tied to artificial intelligence models, stating that such comparisons create a real safety issue. Altman expressed discomfort when people ascribe religious force or a surrender of human judgment to AI models during recent discussions.
These comments follow a detailed New York Times report highlighting Anthropic's outreach to religious leaders, as well as a statement from Pope Leo XIV asserting that algorithms lack the spark of humanity. Previously in 2023 and 2024, Altman had used phrases like magic intelligence in the sky and being on the side of the angels while discussing OpenAI's goals.
Despite his past rhetoric and previous conversations with religious leaders, Altman now distinguishes his vision from attributing actual consciousness or spiritual meaning to the technology. He has frequently stated that his primary goal is building AI on the level of the deeply humanized science fiction movie Her, rather than creating a divine entity.
Why it matters: This shift in language highlights a growing effort by industry leaders to ground public discourse on artificial intelligence in practical safety rather than mystical hype.