DALLAS — Joe Allen delivered a speech in March 2026 at First Baptist Church in Dallas, stating that the "technological elite" seeks to replace God with the "religion of AI." Allen travels across the U.S. giving speeches warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence.

Allen writes about the dangers of artificial intelligence for outlets including The Federalist and holds a position on the "War Room" podcast hosted by former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon. Before his March speech, Allen said, "Now I sound less crazy." Bannon stated he knew early on that Allen's words would resonate with working-class and lower-middle-class Americans. "He is perfect for that audience," Bannon told CNN.

During his speech, Allen displayed a slide showing AI executives attached to the tentacles of Shoggoth, a fictional monster from H.P. Lovecraft's 1936 novella, "At the Mountains of Madness." Allen told CNN, "People are horrified by the imposition of technology." He added, "They are furious."

Allen said he considers himself part of a "complete network" that crosses ideological divides against artificial intelligence. During his speech, he addressed U.S. President Donald Trump's stance on AI. "He has three years to make that decision," Allen said. Trump has favored laxer regulation of artificial intelligence.

A June 2026 Pew Research Center survey found that more Americans believe artificial intelligence will be bad for society than good. The survey also found that a majority of Americans across party lines want the government to regulate artificial intelligence. Jeff Gottfried, associate director at Pew, said, "Americans are becoming more negative about AI over time." He added that young people feel the most negative about the impacts of artificial intelligence on society and the future.

Public actions against artificial intelligence have included college students heckling AI at graduation ceremonies and communities protesting the construction of AI data centers. Additionally, families have filed lawsuits against AI companies, alleging that AI chatbots encouraged harmful actions. First Baptist Church in Dallas is one of the largest megachurches in the United States, with a 270,000-square-foot complex that serves approximately 16,000 congregants. Many congregants are declared supporters of Donald Trump, and the church's leader, Robert Jeffries, has been an ally of Trump.

Technology companies argue that artificial intelligence will benefit society by creating new jobs and increasing productivity. They also state they are taking actions to reduce energy consumption and pay for electricity used by their data centers. A May 2026 CBS News/YouGov poll indicated that a majority of liberals, moderates, and conservatives do not believe U.S. government policy will ensure artificial intelligence is used "in the right way." The June Pew survey also reported that 61 percent of Republicans do not trust the government's ability to regulate artificial intelligence effectively.