Robert Wright’s *The God Test*
Robert Wright's upcoming book, *The God Test*, explores the implications of artificial intelligence on humanity's future. The author emphasizes the need for a shift in human understanding to harness AI's potential positively. The review reflects on the challenges of steering grand visions in a rapidly changing world.
- ▪The book is set to be released on June 23, 2026.
- ▪Wright argues that humanity should approach AI with a sense of awe.
- ▪He believes a major reorientation of thought is necessary to maximize AI's benefits.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Robert Wright’s *The God Test* by Tyler Cowen May 24, 2026 at 12:32 am in Books Philosophy Web/Tech The subtitle is Artificial Intelligence and Our Coming Cosmic Reckoning, due out June 23. In the first chapter, Wright summarizes four of his perspectives, these are my paraphrases of his pp.5-6: 1. When it comes to AI, we should be somewhere on the awe spectrum. 2. We can create a future where the upside of AI far outweights the downside, though that involves steering human understanding toward the better side of the awe spectrum. 3. A major reorientation of human thought is required, and right now few people seem inclined to do that. 4. The worldviews of the current AI acclerationists and also doomers are not cosmic enough.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Marginal Revolution.
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