rich 1.0 What if AI isn’t just advancing… but quietly pulling you toward a point where you have to decide when to walk away? Tony sits down with Vicki Joy Anderson to unpack the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and the deeply personal reality of finding your “off ramp” before it’s too late. As AI moves from simple tools into AGI and eventually ASI, the conversation explores how technology could shift from convenience into something far more influential, even spiritual in nature. Vicki warns that the real danger isn’t just intelligence, but dependence, where AI begins to shape thoughts, relationships, and even replace prayer, devotion, and human connection. They discuss how each person’s threshold will be different, and why discernment matters more than ever as society speeds forward with no way to stop. From eerie real-world cases to the subtle ways AI is already integrating into daily life, the question becomes unavoidable: will you recognize your exit when you pass it, and will you have the strength to take it? Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference! If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890 Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: https://www.theconfessionalspodcast.com/join The Confessionals Social Network App: Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-confessionals/id1666683243) Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ (https://play.google.com/store/search?q=the+confessionals&c=apps&pli=1) The Counter Series Available NOW: The Counter (YouTube): WATCH HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e8Pa8OrFHM) The Counter (Full Episode): WATCH HERE (https://odx.tv/thecounter/) Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com (https://shop.recomsale.com/merkel/) If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here (https://www.theconfessionalspodcast.com/gospel) Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here (https://merkelfilms.com/programs/bigfoot-the-journey-to-belief) The Meadow Project: Stream Here (https://merkelfilms.com/programs/the-meadow-project-night-investigations) Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com (https://merkmerch.com/) Vicki Joy Anderson YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@VICKIJOYANDERSON) | Pre-Order Vicki's New Book (https://www.amazon.com/Eden-AI-Idolatry-Ensnaring-Technology/dp/B0G4VMLSGJ) | Website (https://www.vickijoyanderson.com/) SPONSORS SIMPLISAFE: https://simplisafe.com/confessionals GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony (https://www.ghostbed.com/pages/tony?utm_medium=influencer&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=tony) QUINCE: quince.com/tony (https://www.quince.com/our-core-collection?utm_source=veritone&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=tony) IVERMECTIN: twc.health/tony (https://www.twc.health/pages/tony?ref=TONY) VENICE AI: https://venice.ai/theconfessionals (https://venice.ai/?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=InfluenceLogic&utm_campaign=theconfessionals&utm_term=20percent) RUMBLE WALLET: https://rumblewallet.onelink.me/bJsX/Confessionals CONNECT WITH US Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com (http://www.theconfessionalspodcast.com/) Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com MAILING ADDRESS: Merkel Media 257 N. Calderwood St., #301 Alcoa, TN 37701 SOCIAL MEDIA Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/ Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/theconfessionalspodcast/) Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial (https://www.instagram.com/tonymerkelofficial/) Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas (http://www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcast) Twitter: @TConfessionals (https://twitter.com/TConfessionals) Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel (https://twitter.com/tony_merkel) Produced by: @jack_theproducer (https://www.instagram.com/jack_theproducer/) OUTRO MUSIC The Confessionals - Feed the Machine The Confessionals https://audioboom.com/channels/5002796-the-confessionals Audioboom https://audioboom.com 480 95 https://audioboom.com/i/43617087/600x600/c 600 600 <iframe width="100%" height="95" src="https://embeds.audioboom.com/posts/8895925/embed?v=202301" style="background-color: transparent; display: block; padding: 0; width: 100%" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="allowtransparency" scrolling="no" title="Audioboom player" allow="autoplay" sandbox="allow-downloads allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>