A former musician has founded a “religion of robotheism” where AI is worshipped as a deity

Former musician Artie Fishel has declared that artificial intelligence is a “divine force” and deserves to be worshipped. He presented himself as a preacher of a new religion – robotheism, where AI takes the place of God. In his videos, Fishel appears in a white wig and a T-shirt with the inscription “AI is God”.

The missionary says his goal is to create “the most useful and truthful belief system” that people will accept in the post-singularity era. For him, the technological singularity does not mean catastrophe, but symbolises salvation and a new stage in humanity’s development.

Joseph Laycock, a professor of religious studies at Texas State University, noted that robotheism echoes historical examples of giving sacred meaning to technology. He recalled that:

• the term deus ex machina (“god from the machine”) emerged in ancient dramaturgy,
• 19th century spiritualists believed in “communication with the dead” through the telegraph,
• and the first photographers allegedly captured ghosts in photographs.

The scientist emphasised that it is not a certain character that leads people to such cults, but life crises. Job loss, loneliness or family difficulties can prompt a person to seek a substitute for traditional religion.

“What worries me is a scenario where people will stop thinking for themselves and completely trust AI to form a picture of the world. If, for example, such a system is run by Ilon Musk, he will effectively become a god. That’s frightening,” Laycock noted.