Joe Allen, a self-proclaimed tech-Luddite, has been traveling the country giving sermons warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI). His message is resonating with many Americans who are increasingly worried about AI’s impact on their jobs, electricity bills, and mental health.

Allen’s Rise to Prominence

Allen’s skepticism of AI would have been niche just a few years ago, but now he is firmly in the mainstream. In February, Time magazine featured him in a cover story about the backlash against AI. His speeches, writings, and media appearances are helping fuel a widening rift on AI within the American right that could pose a problem for President Donald Trump and Republicans in the coming midterm elections.

Many in Allen’s audiences are supporters of President Trump, but they don’t necessarily agree with the Trump administration’s largely hands-off approach to regulating AI. A bipartisan majority wants the government to regulate AI, according to a June survey from the Pew Research Center.

Concerns About AI

Nationwide, college students worried about their job prospects are booing AI at commencement ceremonies. Communities are protesting the construction of AI data centers, afraid they’ll bring pollution and noise. Families are suing AI companies for harmful actions they say AI chatbots encouraged.

Allen leans into these sentiments, claiming that the tech elite aims to replace God with the ‘religion of AI.’ He warns that AI ‘uses you’ and preys on children, ‘masked by the innocence’ of a screen.

Steve Bannon, whose ‘War Room’ podcast helped elevate Allen to a national audience, said he knew early on that Allen’s words would resonate with working-class and lower-middle-class Americans. Bannon encouraged Allen to take his message on the road, citing Allen’s background in theology and his ability to connect with a crowd.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.