Vice President JD Vance says certain uses of artificial intelligence can carry "really, really weird spiritual dark energy."
Speaking on the Bryce Crawford Podcast on August. 31, Vance said he worries about people using AI as a substitute for human relationships, such as AI-assisted marriage counseling.
The comments come as Ohio debates the rapid expansion of AI-related data centers. OpenAI is plannning a major data center in Pike County, while candidates for governor and Senate are pushing proposals aimed at limiting costs to residents.
Here's more on what he said.
Why JD Vance says some AI uses have 'spiritual dark energy'
Vance said he sees "really, really weird spiritual dark energy" around some uses of AI.
"People have like AI romantic partners now," Vance said. "It's like watching 'My Strange Addiction'
again, where someone's in a relationship with their car, but it's modified into an AI robot."
Vance even said that a major technology company holds a "burial ceremony" for the model of a tech product when a newer version is introduced, according to USA TODAY. However, he did not name the company.
Does Vance support AI? Data centers?
Despite his criticism of some AI uses, Vance has supported AI development and the data centers behind it, according to NBC.
He recently said data centers shouldn't lead to higher electric bills for residents, Mediaite reports. "I don't think the data centers are that controversial. It's when the utility bills get so much higher — that's when it's a real problem."
Vance focused on 'doing God's work' if 'living in the end time'
In addition voicing his opinion on AI and tech, Vance also talked about his his focus while living in what he said my be the end time.
"While I wouldn’t be shocked if we are living in the end time, what I’m trying to focus on is doing as much of God’s work as possible right now," he said, adding that he is willing to accept whatever spiritual consequences may come from his efforts.
"If that leads to the end times, okay, and if that leads to…us building a better world that thrives and survives for a very long time after I'm gone, that's great too," Vance said.
He later reiterated that he believes the end times are inevitable.
"I think you gotta just kinda try and have an attitude of the end times may be coming, in fact they are coming, it's just a question of whether they’re coming thousands of years down the road or a few months down the road," Vance said. "And we've got a lot of work to do right now."
"I got to try to do the work I can right now," he added.
Vance reveals he is 'fascinated' by end times prophecies
Vice President JD Vance says the "end times" have always fascinated him, and that he's open to the possibility that his work as a top world leader could contribute to their arrival, saying his focus is more on doing God’s work.
"I for my entire life have been fascinated by the end times, prophecy and theology," Vance, 42, said during an episode of the "The Bryce Crawford Podcast" published Aug. 31, adding that the first Bible he ever got − the John Hagee Prophecy Study Bible − when he was probably 10 or 11 was heavily focused "in sort of the church on end times."
"End times" refer to the Christian belief that the world as we know it will come to an end at some point in the future.
"Do I think that we're in the end times?" Vance then questioned himself. "I don't know. And I think that it's probably bad for me spiritually to focus too much on it because there are things you got to do."
He continued: "I got to be good to my wife. I got to be good to my kids. I have to be as good of a leader as I can for the United States of America. While I'm fascinated by it, I think focusing on it is too much can be very bad."
Vance said, "there are like, things about the world" that don't shock him, such as "if the antichrist was walking among us," but that he tries not to "focus too much on it."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JD Vance sees 'dark energy' in AI, reveals fascination with 'end times'
