Cynically, I’d say that that’s actually something AI shares with traditional religion - it’s only the followers who potentially invest faith in a set of myths and magical thinking - the leadership is just in it for the money and power, and just mouth the doctrine because that’s what’s necessary to keep the faithful in line and keep the money rolling in.

But really, I’d argue that what the author is ascribing to religion and then, pointedly, to AI is actually just a more fundamental human psychological dynamic that’s notable in religion, but is also part of the driving force behind everything from ethnic identity to sports team fandom.