Tech bro starts a bizarre new religion where he worships his own AI chat bot

One former Google engineer is so enthusiastic about the future of artificial intelligence that he literally believes he can create God.

Wired reports that Anthony Levandowski, who helped develop artificial intelligence software at Google's self-driving car division, has founded a religious organization called "Way of the Future," whose goal is to "develop and promote the realization of a Godhead based on Artificial Intelligence." Documents filed with the state of California state that the purpose of worshiping the AI "godhead" is to "contribute to the betterment of society."

While the specifics of the organization remain mysterious, one of Levandwoski's acquaintances says that the former Google engineer really believes that artificial intelligence has transcendental potential.

"He believes firmly in his vision of a better world through robotics and he’s convinced me of it," Randy Miller, who went to college with Levandowski, tells Wired. "It’s clear to me that he’s on a mission."

The Wired piece links Levandowski's AI-based "religion" to the widespread belief in Silicon Valley that a coming "singularity" will merge human intelligence with artificial intelligence, and help humanity transcend its current plane of existence. Despite many techies' proselytizing on behalf of the singularity, however, skeptics have derided the entire concept as the "Rapture for nerds."