On a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, comedian Tim Dillon joined Joe Rogan for a conversation that touched on artificial intelligence, religion, and what both men see as a growing concentration of power among tech elites.
The discussion began with the influence of major technology companies and the unprecedented level of control they wield. Rogan compared today’s tech giants to some of the most powerful organizations in history.
“Unless you go back to like the East India Corporation, you go back in the day where they had like an enormous army, and they took over India and Pakistan,” Rogan said.
He argued that modern technology leaders are pursuing something even more significant.
“The goal is to create literally a digital god,” Rogan said. “And it’s going to be controlled by not us, not the collective human race. It’s going to be controlled by a select few group of people. And that’s weird. Like, and we’re just trusting them.”
Dillon agreed and suggested that economic pressure could eventually be used to secure public compliance with whatever system emerges.
“I think the reality is that eventually they’re going to go, do you want safe streets? Do you want food? Do you want a little bit of money?” Dillon said. “You got to do X, Y, and Z. You got to believe X, Y, and Z.”
The conversation then shifted toward what both men described as a growing overlap between prominent tech figures and Christianity.
“I get the feeling when you see a lot of these tech guys start adopting Christianity,” Dillon observed.
Rogan expanded on the idea, bringing up investor Peter Thiel’s interest in religious themes, particularly the concept of the Antichrist.
He said, “How about Peter Thiel’s like that whole Antichrist thing? He gave a lecture on the Antichrist.”
Dillon agreed, saying, “A lot of those guys are moving into this interesting area of, this is God wants this.”
He pointed to Vice President JD Vance’s public embrace of faith while also maintaining close ties to influential figures in Silicon Valley.
“It’s all of these worlds existing together,” Dillon said, “where you have this world of people who are trying to build a god and the world of people who already believe in a god and trying to get all of those people in the same tent.”
That led Rogan to a more philosophical question about the future of artificial intelligence and humanity’s pursuit of technological advancement.
“Imagine if that’s where God comes from,” Rogan said. “If this is a natural process for human beings and their curiosity and insatiable need for technological innovation.”
Dillon then says, “Then what happens once we get God? Like, once we bring this god in, then what happens?”
Rogan responded with a sarcastic prediction. “Nirvana. We all merge. Becomes perfect,” he joked.
Rogan played along.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it,” he replied. “We’re all going to merge with the machine.”
