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A mesmerizing digital tunnel of concentric circles spirals inward with vibrant neon colors—reds, blues, greens, and yellows—creating a futuristic, data-filled vortex effect against a dark background.
Sam Buntz /

The Intelligence Cult

If artificial intelligence is a tool, what do we plan to use it for?
Photo via Getty Images.

Meet Marvin. Marvin is a man, but perhaps more truly a boy. He may or may not work in tech, but, whatever the case, he’s inordinately excited about AI. He lacks spiritual or artistic commitments. Marvin is an atheist, which, given his enthusiasm for AI, makes sense—if you’re trying to “build God,” you probably don’t think God exists.

Sam Buntz is a writer based in Chicago. His work has appeared in First Things, The Critic, and Real Clear Books, and he also has written a novel, The God of Smoke and Mirrors, available on Amazon.

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