Mistral CEO Arthur Mensch was criticizing the grandiose way some people talk about artificial general intelligence (AGI), not claiming that AI companies literally intend to create a deity. In a quote reported by Futurism from a 2024 New York Times interview, he called the rhetoric “about creating God” and said he did not believe in AGI.
What did Arthur Mensch mean by “creating God”?
Mensch used “God” as a metaphor for the ambition and near-mythic language surrounding AGI: the idea of a future AI with broadly human-level or greater capabilities. His point was about how that goal is described, not proof that any particular company has achieved AGI or literally plans to build a god.
Futurism’s April 15, 2024 report attributes these words to Mensch: “The whole AGI rhetoric is about creating God.” It also quotes him saying, “I don’t believe in God. I’m a strong atheist. So I don’t believe in AGI.” The remarks were reported as coming from an interview with The New York Times; the quotation here is supported by Futurism’s account.
What was his broader concern about AI?
Models can influence culture
Mensch also argued that AI systems help shape how people understand the world. Futurism quoted him saying: “These models are producing content and shaping our cultural understanding of the world.” He added that “the values of France and the values of the United States differ in subtle but important ways.” His concern, as reported, was that the cultural values reflected in AI-generated content can matter, not merely the systems’ technical capabilities.
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Labor changes and a dated prediction
In the same report, Mensch said AI-related changes to work were arriving faster than earlier technological revolutions and predicted, “Not in 10 years but more like in two.” That was a forecast made in 2024, not a verified account of what subsequently happened or a current timeline for job-market change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the remarks do—and do not—establish
- They establish his view: Mensch expressed skepticism toward AGI claims and criticized the way some advocates frame the goal.
- They do not establish a shared industry intention: the reported remarks do not show that all AI companies want to build something godlike.
- They do not settle AGI’s status: the quotes are an opinion about rhetoric and belief, not technical evidence that AGI exists or does not exist.
The source for these remarks is Noor Al-Sibai’s Futurism report published April 15, 2024, which attributes them to a New York Times interview.
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