Peter Thiel criticized Pope Leo XIV over AI fears in private talks, Politico reports
In short
Peter Thiel, a leading figure of the US "tech right" and chairman of Palantir Technologies, criticized Pope Leo XIV and former President Obama over artificial intelligence in private speeches in Tennessee on September 28 and October 5, Politico reported on October 8. Thiel said many people are using AI's unpopularity to raise their own popularity, according to the report, which was based on audio recordings Politico obtained.
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Peter Thiel, a leading figure of the US "tech right", recently criticized Pope Leo XIV and others over artificial intelligence, US news site Politico reported on October 8, according to a Kyodo News report from Washington carried by Tokyo Shimbun and Nikkei and a report in Sankei Shimbun. Thiel complained that, amid growing fears that AI could run out of control, they are exploiting public anxiety. Politico based its report on audio recordings it obtained of private speeches. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
According to Politico, the private speeches took place on September 28 and October 5 in the southern US state of Tennessee. Thiel said that "many people are using AI's unpopularity to raise their own popularity", and argued that this applied to Leo XIV and former Democratic President Obama. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Leo XIV has warned against unchecked AI development, out of concern that AI could become uncontrollable and could destroy humanity, Tokyo Shimbun and Nikkei reported. Nikkei's version further reported that Thiel put forward his own view that clergy had seized on AI, a politically prominent issue, to divert public attention from the problem of sexual abuse of children and others by Catholic clergy. This claim appears only in Nikkei's report. [ 1 , 3 ]
The tech right dislikes state regulation and emphasizes technological innovation, the reports said. Thiel is chairman of data analytics major Palantir Technologies. He is known for being among the first in the IT industry to declare support for President Trump and has great influence on the Trump administration. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Nikkei added that Thiel is a former boss of Vice President Vance and was deeply involved in Vance's entry into politics, and that Palantir's AI-based technology is used by the US military to select attack targets and decide priorities. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The outlets describe Thiel as having great influence on the Trump administration, and his remarks set him against the Pope, who has warned against unchecked AI development. The tech right he represents dislikes state regulation and emphasizes technological innovation.
Key facts
- Politico reported on October 8 that Peter Thiel recently criticized Pope Leo XIV and others over AI. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Thiel complained that, amid growing fears of AI running out of control, they are exploiting public anxiety. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The report was based on audio recordings of private speeches given on September 28 and October 5 in Tennessee. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Thiel said "many people are using AI's unpopularity to raise their own popularity" and named Leo XIV and former Democratic President Obama as examples. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Thiel is chairman of data analytics major Palantir Technologies and has great influence on the Trump administration. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Leo XIV has warned against unchecked AI development out of concern that AI could become uncontrollable and destroy humanity. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Nothing is confirmed by two independent outlets yet.
Still unclear
- Thiel argued that clergy seized on AI, a politically prominent issue, to divert public attention from sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy. Only Nikkei's report includes this claim.
- Thiel is a former boss of Vice President Vance, and Palantir's AI-based technology is used by the US military to select and prioritize attack targets. Only Nikkei's report gives these details.
- Whether the Vatican, Obama or Thiel responded to the Politico report. None of the reports mentions a response.
- Politico reported on October 8 that Thiel criticized Pope Leo XIV over AI, based on audio recordings of private speeches it obtained. Reported by a single source so far
- The private speeches took place on September 28 and October 5 in the southern US state of Tennessee. Reported by a single source so far
- Thiel said Leo XIV and former President Obama were using AI's unpopularity to raise their own popularity. Reported by a single source so far
- Thiel is chairman of Palantir Technologies, was among the first in the IT industry to back Trump, and has great influence on the Trump administration. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Tokyo Shimbun publishes Kyodo News's report from Washington on Politico's account of Thiel's criticism of the Pope. [ 1 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun runs the report under the headline that the US tech right has criticized the Pope. [ 2 ]
- Nikkei publishes the Kyodo report, including Thiel's claim about clergy sexual abuse and his ties to Vance. [ 3 ]
- Sankei Shimbun publishes the report, highlighting Thiel's influence on the Trump administration. [ 4 ]