What does a hedonistic festival in the middle of the desert, the ritual burning of a 40-foot wooden man, and some of the biggest names in the artificial intelligence industry have to do with each other? Once you find out, you’ll never look at AI the same way again, but more importantly, you’ll understand why intercessors must pray about the rapid acceleration of all things tech.

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Each year for the nine days leading up to Labor Day, a temporary, but elaborate metropolis is built from the ground up in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. Known as Black Rock City, it’s erected by thousands of volunteers and participants who will attend the annual Burning Man gathering. As many as 70,000 attendees, known as “burners,” come from all over the world, setting up camps and hoping to gain inspiration and enlightenment. Sculptors, painters, designers, dancers, music artists, New Age gurus, entrepreneurs, inventors, as well as the biggest, brightest, and wealthiest developers in Silicon Valley, immerse themselves in the odd, pagan culture of Black Rock City, where anything goes.

A Celebration of the Occult

The organizers of Burning Man market it as a venue for radical self-expression, limitless inclusiveness, and immersive creativity, but the truth is that the event is a celebration of debauchery and the occult.

The nine-day festivities culminate with the “burning of the man,” where a giant wood-framed man is set ablaze while onlookers observe the body as it burns and smolders. Eventually, the whole structure collapses into a charred pit of ashes, representing “a cathartic release” where one lets go of fears, limits, expectations, and personal burdens. “Burning the man” is also a metaphor for “frustration with large organizations and government,” as well as a symbolic act of “obedient civil disobedience.” The collapse itself represents the destruction of everything that was, so that what will be can be ushered in.

Come, Let Us Build a City and a Tower

The massive effigy is a bold reminder of the Tower of Babel, where mankind set out to build a structure that reached to the heavens. Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, Genesis 11:4. The tower was not created to honor God, but rather to glorify the sinful accomplishments of men.

While the idolatrous burning man is the centerpiece of the event, it’s just one piece of a much larger picture that attracts artificial intelligence masterminds who are looking for new ideas and inspiration for their next project.

Tech entrepreneur, investor, and CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, believes Burning Man is more than a festival, stressing that it gives people a glimpse of what the future could look like when AGI (artificial general intelligence) becomes a reality. AGI refers to a time when AI can understand, learn, and perform any intellectual task that a human can, eventually surpassing humans.

Psychedelics Inspire Big Tech

Altman openly shares that he’s used psychedelics while at Burning Man, a common practice among burners and AI engineers. He explains that using these mind-altering substances has transformed his life and “changed his perspective,” so he’s able to work more creatively.

Psychedelic drugs such as LSD, Psilocybin (mushrooms), DMT, Ayahuasca, and peyote are used by many burners to connect with spirit guides, ancient ancestors, and “divine beings,” in order to gain knowledge, wisdom, inspiration, and healing. Of course, the dabbling described as transformative to experimenters is really a way to connect with demonic forces.

Altman joins a long list of billionaires and elites who have made the journey to Burning Man over the years. One of the most influential AI developers in history, and the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, has attended the event, commenting that Burning Man is a reflection of Silicon Valley. “If you haven’t been, you just don’t get it,” he insists. Musk has commissioned art pieces that have debuted at the festival, including a 30-foot-tall steel piece known as the Metafork in the Road.

Investors, developers, computer engineers, and AI influencers are drawn to the mystery and open atmosphere of Burning Man. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Facebook/Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, Palantir’s Peter Thiel, Dropbox’s Drew Houston, Reddit’s Alexis Ohanian, Uber’s Garrett Camp, Google’s Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and Google’s Eric Schmidt are just a sampling of the industry giants who have attended. Interestingly enough, the first Google doodle was a tribute to Burning Man.

A Spiritual Experience

Business leaders and AI developers say that they are enamored by the incredible pieces of immersive art, digital displays, and unusual inventions at Burning Man. But there are also hands-on workshops offered about topics such as intention-setting, guided meditation, shamanism, energy healing, radical self-expression, robotics, electronics, and interactive tech. In essence, New Age thought merges with intellect and ingenuity, creating a recipe for AI developers that is not only technical but also spiritual.

The spiritual element of Burning Man cannot be understated. The Temple is the most “sacred” space in Black Rock City, where participants bring objects to burn for “spiritual cleansing.” One can also “honor or curse” the past and present while pondering the future. The Temple doesn’t belong to any one faith, but its purpose is for participants to engage in communal religion without judgment through radical acceptance.

Among the spirituality, however, there’s an element of lewdness and indecency that permeates the event. The Orgy Dome is a place where burners can experiment sexually. Only couples or “moresomes” (groups) are allowed inside as it’s centered around “shared intimacy.” People of all sexual orientations are welcome to participate without judgment.

Billionaire PayPal founder Peter Thiel, a key investor in AI companies and tech, describes his trip to Burning Man as “coming close to finding the islands in the Bohai Sea, inhabited by immortal beings who have discovered the elixir of life,” as described in Chinese mythology. Thiel is also a transhumanist and works with the SENS Research Foundation, which focuses on reversing biological aging. Thiel has stated that he’s a Christian, despite the fact that he’s openly gay and hopes to preserve his body or brain cryogenically so it can be revived by future technology. Those who have worked for Thiel often travel to Burning Man, calling themselves Thielians.

A Warning from Nicole Shanahan

If there’s anyone who understands the demonic influences behind Burning Man, it’s former vice-presidential candidate, Nicole Shanahan. Before she teamed up with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during the 2024 presidential race, she was married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin. The pair were devoted burners, attending the Burning Man festival yearly as guests of the “Elite First Camp.” While all burners set up camps at the event, those with big money and influence are a microcosm all their own. The now-divorced Shanahan, who recently became a Christian, shares powerful words of warning about Burning Man.

“I have come to believe that Burning Man is not just an eccentric festival, but rather a powerful vehicle for deception. In fact, it may be one of the most effective tools for Satan to misdirect souls away from our Heavenly Father. When you surrender yourself to ‘the playa,’ you do not simply embrace freedom; you also open yourself to profound distortions of what is good.”

Shanahan, who says she is currently “devouring the Bible,” reveals the truth about Burning Man.

“Burning Man is a compressed version of the most exciting EDM concert you’ve ever been to: ecstatic dance classes, yoga lessons, group therapy sessions, expressive art installations, visits to the red-light district, and alcohol and drug-fueled nights out with friends…one-night stands, profound conversations, and fleeting moments of human connection…unbridled ecstasy, shared communally…a sensory feast, a kind-of temporary utopia…the flesh at its fullest–raw desire…it became clear that First camp was not only about logistics. It was also a place of access, where celebrities and dignitaries–tech founders, movie stars, diplomats, and even royalty were hosted…yes there were constant orgies. Yes, drugs were consumed in staggering quantities. And yes, sexual assault and rape occurred…nudity is everywhere…many openly practice magic, summoning spiritual entities as if for entertainment…self-proclaimed healers abound, offering their versions of medicines and rituals. Occult symbols and ceremonies are practiced so frequently that they become ingrained in the fabric of daily life…I know what Burning Man did to my spirit and to my brain, and it was not good.”

 Pagan-fueled events like Burning Man are just a glimpse into the demonic forces that are influencing AI development. In fact, the pagan rituals and New Age practices that manifest at Burning Man are typical in tech industry culture.

The Stargate Project

The Stargate Project, backed by over 500 billion dollars, was launched in 2025 and will accelerate AI to levels never seen. The AI partners, investors, and developers involved in this venture are some of the same people who look to events like Burning Man or similar pagan influences for inspiration.

Christ-centered researcher and author Carl Teichrib has spent years investigating how pagan culture is influencing the American worldview, as well as the tech world. He has attended Burning Man many times, and warns that “it’s a ceremony for the future of the world.”

AI industry leaders are building their own Tower of Babel, boasting that it will “reach to the heavens.” In reality, it’s paving the road to Hell.

Praying about AI

Intercessors, we must pray about the rapid acceleration of AI because many tech giants are engaging in occult practices that can influence what will be developed and how it will be used. The city and tower erected at Burning Man each year is a reminder that, like the Tower of Babel, many AI experts are trying to create a name for themselves, instead of seeking God’s direction. In essence, they want to remake the world in AI’s image.

1. Pray for AI developers and investors such as Sam Altman, Sergey Brin, Larry Ellison, Elon Musk, and others to experience a radical transformation that comes from Jesus, rather than the occult.
2. Pray that the Burning Man event would be shut down permanently. (At the 2025 event, the Orgy Dome was destroyed by a severe windstorm. Flooding has also occurred some years, making it a challenging experience for campers).
3. Pray that more Christian AI industry leaders would step up and lead development in a God-centered way. Also, pray for clear guardrails to be set.
4. Christian author and New Age expert Carl Teichrib evangelizes and leads Bible studies at Burning Man every year. Pray for God to use him mightily and for more people to share the gospel with tech developers and planners.
5. AI giant Elon Musk has stated that when it comes to AI, “We are summoning the demon.” Pray that any demonic forces behind AI would be bound and destroyed.

Lord Jesus, the occult has infiltrated the AI industry, and its influence is detrimental and disturbing. Please put a stop to this rapid, dangerous acceleration.

What do you think about Burning Man? How can we pray about the occult’s influence on the AI industry?

Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger, and former teacher who studies the signs of the times, as well as the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. She is also the author of Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus and Hallelujah’s Great Ride. Photo Credit: BlackJack3D/Getty Images Signature via Canva Teams.