Billionaire tech investor Peter Thiel has accused former President Barack Obama and Pope Leo XIV of capitalizing on public anxiety about artificial intelligence, arguing that opposition to the technology could become a tool for political influence and global control.

Peter Thiel Targets Obama, Pope Over AI Opposition

According to exclusive recordings of closed-door lectures obtained by Decoded by POLITICO, Thiel made the remarks during a new series of talks in Nashville, where he expanded on his warnings about the Antichrist and the dangers of centralized power.

"Many people know that AI is politically unpopular and want to leverage that to boost their own popularity," Thiel said, singling out Obama and the pope.

Thiel also criticized Democrats' approach to the technology, stating that Obama believes the party lacks ideas but can still rally support by opposing AI.

Thiel Links AI Regulation to 'One World' Government

In his lectures, he also invoked the Antichrist, a figure in Christian theology, to describe a potential threat from leaders who promise stability while restricting technology and individual freedom.

He has linked this perceived threat to a "one world government" that could use regulation to limit technological advancement.

While supporters of AI regulation argue that safeguards are needed to address the risks of rapidly advancing technology, Thiel sees such efforts as a potential way to consolidate power.

Pope Leo Warns AI Could Threaten Humanity

In November 2025, Pope Leo urged AI developers to ground their work in ethical and spiritual principles.

Last month, he warned that AI and other technologies' growing influence on everyday life could threaten humanity's sense of what it means to be human.

The comments also follow Obama's call for Democrats to develop a more comprehensive plan for addressing AI.

At a private fundraiser in September, Obama highlighted the need for a clear framework to guide public debate on AI policy, particularly if Democrats retake the House in the upcoming midterm elections.

Tech CEOs Warn of AI Risks

Elon Musk, CEO of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and Tesla Inc. (TSLA), has also renewed his warnings about AI, arguing that it poses greater risks than earlier technological advances.

Meanwhile, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has urged the industry to slow AI development, warning that a lack of coordinated restraint could lead to catastrophic consequences.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, a rival of Amodei, has also expressed concerns about AI risks.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by MarketDash editors.