MIT professor and AI researcher Max Tegmark says America should build useful AI tools instead of chasing a “digital god”. He made the case on Newsmax’s “Sunday Agenda”.

Tegmark argued the US can stay competitive in AI by developing practical tools. He pointed to advances like AI-assisted cancer cures as the right direction.

“Why can’t we build AI tools rather than beings?” he asked. He said a “crazy digital God obsession” pushed by Silicon Valley lobbyists is drawing resistance, including from Republicans.

His comments came during a discussion of President Donald Trump’s push to keep the US ahead in the AI race. Tegmark said tools, not artificial beings, are the way to do it.

He also pointed to the recent Pro-Human Assembly in Washington, D.C., where he introduced Steve Bannon onstage. Faith leaders there questioned the goal of creating artificial beings.

“A lot of faith leaders were saying, why should we be cool with a bunch of atheists, mostly from San Francisco, saying they want to build a digital god when we already have one?” Tegmark said.