Billionaire Peter Thiel Says AI Regulation Is Evil — But He Profits From AI

Peter Thiel, the billionaire co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, has been giving paid lectures in cities like Nashville where he argues that any attempt to regulate artificial intelligence is evil. He claims that former President Barack Obama and Pope Leo XIV are pushing AI safety rules just to gain popularity, and he suggests the antichrist will be someone who advocates for AI regulation. These lectures cost $100 per ticket and have been kept somewhat secret.

The problem is that Thiel stands to make a lot of money from AI. His venture capital firm, Founders Fund, has invested in many AI startups. His company Palantir sells AI tools to governments. And his hedge fund, Thiel Macro LLC, manages a $418 million portfolio focused on AI. So when he says AI regulation is bad, he is also protecting his own financial interests.

Thiel also criticizes a philosophy called effective altruism, which some tech people use to argue for strict AI safety measures. He says it could lead to a one-world government that stops AI progress. But his real concern seems to be that such rules would slow down the AI industry—and his investments. The Vatican has pushed back; one advisor even wrote an essay asking if Thiel should be burned at the stake for heresy.

For everyday people, this story matters because it shows how billionaires with a financial stake in AI are trying to shape the rules. If AI regulation is framed as evil, then safety measures that could protect jobs, privacy, and democracy might be blocked. Thiel’s influence in Washington and Silicon Valley means his views could delay important safeguards. It’s a reminder to ask: who benefits when we’re told not to regulate a powerful new technology?