Robert Wright — The God Test: Artificial Intelligence and Our Coming Cosmic Reckoning — at Conn Ave

Robert Wright, a bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist, will present his new book *The God Test: Artificial Intelligence and Our Coming Cosmic Reckoning* at Politics and Prose’s Connecticut Avenue location. In this sweeping work, Wright argues that AI is not merely a technological tool but an evolutionary force that will reshape humanity, challenging us spiritually and potentially restoring a sense of meaning and purpose that modern life often lacks. He contends that to understand this revolution, we must look back billions of years across the history of life on Earth, as evolution has been pushing toward this threshold. The climactic question—can we muster the political, moral, and spiritual resources to guide AI wisely?—is what Wright calls “the God test.” The event will feature a conversation between Wright and Joel Achenbach, a retired *Washington Post* reporter and author of seven books.

Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Time: 7:00pm
Venue: Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Livestream: Those unable to attend in person can join the livestream by clicking the link on the event page.
Tickets: Free; seating is first come, first served.
Book: *The God Test: Artificial Intelligence and Our Coming Cosmic Reckoning* (hardcover, $30.00) is available for purchase at the event or online, published June 23, 2026 (ISBN 9781668061657).
Lineup: Robert Wright (author), joined in conversation by Joel Achenbach.
Run time: Not specified.
Ages: Not specified.
Accessibility: To request accommodations or inquire about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com ideally one week in advance. The venue will make an effort to accommodate all requests up until the event time.
Note: Wright is cofounder and editor-in-chief of Bloggingheads.tv and MeaningofLife.tv, a visiting professor at Union Theological Seminary, and author of *The Evolution of God*, *Nonzero*, *The Moral Animal*, and *Why Buddhism Is True*. Achenbach retired from *The Washington Post* in August after 35 years.