Pope Leo XIV to launch his first encylical, a document on artificial intelligence, with Anthropic’s co-founder
Publish Date: 2026-05-18 10:51:00
Source Domain: www.pbs.org
- Pope Leo XIV and Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah will launch the pontiff’s first encyclical titled “Magnifacica Humanitas” on May 25, focusing on the care of human dignity in the AI era.
- Anthropic, emphasizing safety and risk-mitigation in its AI research, is in conflict with the Trump administration, which banned federal agencies from using its technology.
- The encyclical launch will feature an all-star cast, including top Vatican cardinals and additional lay speakers, marking a significant departure from traditional Vatican presentations.
- Like Pope Leo XIII’s “Rerum Novarum,” this encyclical addresses existential questions arising from technological revolutions, situating AI within the context of Catholic social teaching on labor, justice, and peace.
- The encyclical’s release coincides with the growing global competition in AI, particularly involving the U.S., China, and authoritarian regimes threatening to exploit the technology for repressive measures.
