My understanding is that they don't even need you to acknowledge a God, just that "there is cosmically something bigger than you and you have no power to govern it"
While that is touted as being the case, many groups make use of the Serenity Prayer[1]. Most of the time, it directly invokes the use of "God" or "Father" which can turn off non-believers. Some groups use a variation that omits direct reference to a religious entity, while a few groups are committed to avoiding the prayer altogether.
The experience varies from group to group, and even between different meeting times at the same group. They all have their own interpretations and subcultures.
I suppose but as an existentialist/atheist there are dice rolls that govern my entire life and most are not under my control. Using that belief as a tool to cleave apart guilt, shame, and blame is handy.
The same “dice roller” in the sky that brought me trauma also brought me a high affinity with math and science, some pathway to a great tech career so acknowledging a higher power is really about saying “shits gonna happen, good and bad”
Is that about what you experienced?