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Just two days after his election, Pope Leo XIV has placed artificial intelligence at the forefront of his papacy, warning of its potential threats to human dignity and the workforce. Addressing a gathering of cardinals in Rome, the new pontiff invoked the legacy of Leo XIII, a champion of workers’ rights during the industrial revolution, signaling a proactive stance on AI’s societal impact.
“Today, the church offers its trove of social teaching to respond to another industrial revolution and to innovations in the field of artificial intelligence that pose challenges to human dignity, justice and labor,” Leo XIV stated, receiving a standing ovation from the College of Cardinals.
Vatican Seeks Global AI Oversight Amid Tech Industry Divide
Pope Leo XIV’s address follows years of dialogue between the Vatican and Silicon Valley giants like Google and Microsoft. These discussions, often held privately, have aimed to bridge the gap on ethical AI development. However, a fundamental disagreement persists. The Catholic Church advocates for a binding international treaty on AI, a measure some tech companies resist, favoring voluntary ethical guidelines.
The European Union has begun enacting legally binding AI regulations, while the US government remains divided. Certain tech executives have even rejected broad ethical frameworks, raising concerns about unchecked technological advancement.
Echoes of Concern: Pope Francis’ Warnings on “Technological Dictatorship”
Pope Leo XIV’s anxieties mirror those of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who cautioned against a “technological dictatorship.” Francis urged governments to create binding international rules to govern AI, describing it as “fascinating and terrifying” in a message to G-7 leaders. He warned of a potentially bleak future where human decision-making is replaced by “choices by machines.”
Vatican Highlights Risks: Power Consolidation and Dehumanization
The Vatican has also emphasized the dangers of AI leading to power and wealth consolidation, the rise of autonomous weapons, and the potential for children to grow up in a world shaped by dehumanized digital interactions. A recent Vatican document cautioned that even with AI’s potential benefits, unchecked development could harm the many.
Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, a close associate of Pope Leo XIV, stressed the urgency of addressing AI’s risks. “Leo XIV wants the worlds of science and politics to immediately tackle this problem without allowing scientific progress to advance with arrogance, harming those who have to submit to its power,” Versaldi told the Wall Street Journal.
“These tools shouldn’t be demonized, but they need to be regulated. The question is, who will regulate them? It’s not credible for them to be regulated by their makers. There needs to be a superior authority,” he added.
Upcoming Vatican Conference and Potential Tech Leader Meetings
As the Vatican prepares to host a major conference on AI, ethics, and corporate governance, tech executives and church officials are closely watching Pope Leo XIV’s next moves. While he is expected to address conference participants, meetings with leaders from Microsoft and Google could offer further insight into the new pope’s vision for AI’s future and his potential challenges to the tech industry.