Pope Leo XIV Warns of Dangers of AI, Need to ‘Disarm’ the Technology

Pope Leo XIV issued his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,” emphasizing the need for AI to be used for the “common good” rather than profit.
The pope highlighted the significant ethical challenge of ensuring that AI remains “human” and does not become a tool of domination, exclusion, and death.
The encyclical comes amid concerns over the Trump administration’s efforts to deregulate AI, which the pope warned could harm society.
Pope Leo XIV called for robust legal frameworks, independent oversight, informed users, and a responsible political system to guide the ethical use of AI.
He stressed that a more moral AI is necessary, but this morality must be determined inclusively and not by a select few.
The encyclical was released shortly after meeting with representatives from Anthropic, an AI company in conflict with the Trump administration, emphasizing the need for moral guidance in AI development.