The Gospel according to Peter (Thiel)

Peter Thiel argues that efforts to prevent AI catastrophe and promote “safety” could help bring about the Antichrist, making his religious warnings a striking rival to the apocalyptic thinking common in parts of Silicon Valley. The article examines how Thiel has become a prominent, self-appointed voice on Christian end-times theology, and how his ideas connect technology, politics and fears of global conflict.

Thiel’s Antichrist lectures began publicly in 2023, then shifted to private, invitation-only sessions from 2025; recordings of a four-part series he gave in Rome in March were later leaked. He warns that fear of World War III could push societies towards “peace at any price” and an unjust settlement, drawing on biblical references and a mix of religious and cultural ideas. The article presents his argument as a challenge to effective altruism, whose supporters see preventing AI catastrophe as a way to protect humanity.