The God Test

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By Robert Wright ’79

Published Sept. 22, 2026

In The God Test (Simon & Schuster), Pulitzer Prize finalist Robert Wright ’79 examines the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and its implications for humanity. Drawing on decades of research and writing about technology, Wright argues that to understand AI, we must look beyond the history of machines to the much longer, complex history of life itself. Tracing the parallels between the development of artificial and biological intelligence, he considers whether humanity has the political, moral, and even spiritual tools to guide AI responsibly. Ultimately, The God Test asks readers a question with consequences far beyond modern technologies: Can we harness AI in ways that help humanity flourish rather than undermine it?

Paw in print

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Terri Sewell ’86 at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, stands next to a portrait of civil rights leader John Lewis.
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November 2026

History is in Terri Sewell ’86’s hands; campus mental health culture; the two Princetons.