Peter Thiel has accused Barack Obama and Pope Leo XIV of capitalising on public fears about artificial intelligence (AI) to boost their own popularity, according to recordings of private lectures obtained by POLITICO. The billionaire investor made the remarks during talks in Nashville on 28 September and 5 October 2026, linking opposition to AI with his warnings about the Antichrist and the dangers of global regulation.
The comments extend Thiel's longstanding opposition to government intervention in technology into religious and political territory. They also raise questions about the relationship between the investor and Vice President JD Vance, whose entry into politics received substantial financial backing from Thiel.
