The God Test

Jack chats with Robert Wright about his forthcoming book, The God Test: Artificial Intelligence and Our Coming Cosmic Reckoning. They discuss why Wright views AI through an evolutionary lens, the promises and perils of increasingly capable AI systems, and the prospects for international cooperation—particularly between the U.S. and China—in managing AI-related risks. They also examine Wright’s argument that successfully governing AI may require a modest moral upgrade across society, including individual efforts to preserve cognitive sovereignty and mitigate the biases and tribal instincts that can hinder global cooperation.

Mentioned:

- Robert Wright, The God Test: Artificial Intelligence and Our Coming Cosmic Reckoning (2026)

- “When AI Builds Itself” (Anthropic, June 4, 2026)

- “US National Security Agency using Anthropic’s Mythos for cyber attacks,” by Cristina Criddle and Demetri Sevastopulo (Financial Times, June 4, 2026)

- “Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security,” (The White House, June 2, 2026)

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