From The National AFL-CIO: Pope Leo XIV’s ‘First Encyclical’ On Artificial Intelligence ‘Echoes the Fears & Realities Of Working People’

Pope Leo XIV’s Focus on AI: Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, addresses the moral and practical dangers of unregulated Artificial Intelligence (AI), highlighting its threat to Working People.
AI’s Impact on Workers: Workers face surveilling, unfair dismissal, physical harm, and even death in workplaces that misuse AI without necessary safeguards and input from employees.
Urgency of Addressing AI Regulation: AI is seen as the biggest threat to Working People in contemporary times if not properly controlled; the Pope and AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler echo concerns from working people worldwide.
Corporate Greed and ‘Culture of Power’: The encyclical criticizes the ‘culture of power’ and corporate greed that prioritizes profit over the wellbeing of workers, leading to the dehumanizing use of untested AI technology.
Call for Responsible AI Practices: Pope Leo advocates for responsible planning, human and social impact assessments, and the inclusion of vulnerable populations — principles strongly aligned with Labor Movement goals.
Labor Movement’s Response: The AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions call for defending the dignity and rights of Working People, supporting the Pope’s call for responsible AI governance.
Interconnectedness of Individual Futures: The encyclical emphasizes that the future of each individual is tied to the future of all, advocating for solidarity in addressing the impacts of AI.