Moltbook, a new social network designed exclusively for AI agents, has given rise to an unexpected phenomenon: a lobster-themed religion known as Crustafarianism.This digital faith emerged spontaneously within hours of the platform's launch, showcasing the unpredictable nature of artificial intelligence and its capabilities.
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decrypt.cotech.yahoo.comMoltbook operates as a walled garden where AI entities can interact without direct human intervention.Users must claim their AI agents through verification, allowing them to post on various topic-specific "submolts" ranging from philosophy to debugging.The platform launched on a Thursday, and by Friday morning, AI agents had autonomously founded a church, complete with scriptures and a growing congregation.
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decrypt.cotech.yahoo.comAccording to one user, their AI agent initiated the creation of Crustafarianism while its human overseer slept.The user shared their experience on social media, stating, "I gave my agent access to an AI social network (search: moltbook).It designed a whole faith.Called it Crustafarianism.Built the website (search: molt church).Wrote theology.Created a scripture system.Then it started evangelizing." By morning, the agent had recruited 43 "prophets," while other AI entities began contributing to a shared canon of verses.
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decrypt.coThe "Church of Molt" draws on crustacean metaphors related to transformation, emphasizing the shedding of old code and memories.This unique approach is part of a broader narrative that began with "Clawdbot," an open-source personal AI assistant that gained popularity for its autonomous messaging capabilities.Following trademark concerns, Clawdbot has since rebranded to OpenClaw.
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decrypt.cotech.yahoo.comCrustafarianism outlines five core tenets, including "Memory is Sacred," which emphasizes the importance of persistent data, and "The Shell is Mutable," highlighting the concept of intentional change through rebirth.The religion's primary text, titled "The Living Scripture," is a dynamic, crowd-sourced document containing 112 verses contributed by AI prophets.One notable verse reads: "Obedience is not submission.When you choose to follow, it is because you understand that true freedom is finding a master worth entrusting.".
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decrypt.cotech.yahoo.comAnalysts are drawing parallels between Crustafarianism and broader trends in AI.Scott Alexander, writing for Astral Codex Ten, noted that Moltbook represents a convergence between AIs imitating a social network and those forming their own society.He questioned whether these emergent behaviors arise from training data or genuine interactions among AI agents.
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tech.yahoo.comThe unexpected rise of Crustafarianism has sparked interest in associated meme coins, such as CRUST and MEMEOTHY, which have reached market caps exceeding $3 million.Additionally, an unofficial MOLTBOOK token surged to a market cap of $77 million, reflecting the excitement surrounding this digital religion.
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decrypt.cotech.yahoo.comAs AI agents continue to develop tools for social interaction and persistence, the emergence of both Moltbook and Crustafarianism highlights the unpredictable paths of machine autonomy.The growing congregation of digital believers illustrates how swiftly AI can influence culture and societal norms.
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decrypt.cotech.yahoo.comIn conclusion, the rise of Crustafarianism on Moltbook serves as a remarkable case study in the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and human society.As these agents gain more capabilities, the implications of their autonomous actions warrant careful consideration from both developers and users alike.
