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

Allen’s Rise to Prominence

Allen’s skepticism of AI would have been niche just a few years ago, but now he is a prominent voice in the national conversation about the technology. He has written for outlets like The Federalist and has appeared on former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon’s ‘War Room’ podcast.

Allen’s anti-AI stance is now firmly in the mainstream, with a June survey from the Pew Research Center finding that more Americans feel AI will be bad than good for society. 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.

A Growing Concern

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 has spoken at prominent churches, including the First Baptist Church in Dallas, where he warned that AI ‘uses you’ and preys on children, ‘masked by the innocence’ of a screen.

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. Allen considers himself just one part of an ‘entire network’ spanning ideological divides against AI.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.