Michio Kaku: “thoughts and prayers” expected to be fully sentient by 2030
Renowned futurist and theoretical physicist Dr. Michio Kaku expects “thoughts and prayers,” a phrase commonly used by politicians and celebrities after tragic events such as mass shootings or natural disasters, to be fully sentient by the year 2030.
“We all know profoundly overused phrases such as ‘thoughts and prayers’ are a double-edged sword, “ says Dr. Kaku. “They can be used for consolation after some pre-pube hillbilly takes a high-powered assault rifle and turns his classmates into a warm puddle of kitfo lebleb in whatever jerkwater pueblo or, if mankind is not careful, they could be used to wipe out entire civilizations, with or without our consent.”
The once innocuous phrase has proliferated at a rate that alarms Dr. Kaku and his fellow scientists, many who believe “thoughts and prayers” may soon replace humans as the apex species on the planet.
“Take atomic energy for example. There are many beneficial qualities to atomic energy, like generating electricity via nuclear fission without emitting greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, thus helping with the global decarbonization efforts that help keep our planet healthy,” explains the doctor. “But history shows atomic energy can also be used to turn half the population of Japan into dippin’ sauce.”
And what are the perils of a fully sentient ‘thoughts and prayers’?
“The perils of a sentient ‘thoughts and prayers’ that grows beyond the control of man are numerous. When we ask something of ‘thoughts and prayers’ and it responds, ‘no way, Jose,’ like that fruitcake robot or computer or whatever in that Kubrick flick with what’s-his-nuts in it, we will at that moment know humankind is no longer the planet’s top bow-wow,” says Dr. Kaku.
“I believe that it is absolutely imperative that we either put a kill switch in place, or we simply place a moratorium on the phrase ‘thoughts and prayers,’ perhaps replacing it with something equally trite like ‘too bad, so sad’ or ‘suck it up, buttercup.’”
And if we continue to allow “thoughts and prayers” to grow in both number and intelligence?
“If we allow ‘thoughts and prayers’ to continue unchecked, I fear the whole of humanity will be beetle bait before the 2030 Super Bowl halftime show,” says an increasingly pensive Dr. Kaku.
“And this whole big ball of mud—the late, great Planet Earth—will be remembered as nothing more than a greasy spot on the swim trunks of ‘thoughts and prayers’—AKA this corner of the universe’s big enchilada.”
Dr. Kaku, 79, is a professor of theoretical physics at City College of New York. He has authored several books on physics and related subjects and is a frequent guest on various television, radio, and internet programs.
Dr. Michio Kaku lecturing at Jiffy Hormel University, September 13, 2026
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