Pope Leo XIV warned on Monday that concerns regarding artificial intelligence (AI) are not "fake news" and must be taken seriously. Speaking to journalists during his flight back from France, the American Pontiff clarified that while he is not in a state of panic, he believes the warnings issued by experts and scientists in the field deserve careful attention.
Ethical Judgment vs. a "Machine Paradise"
The head of the Catholic Church emphasized the urgent need for education in ethical judgment to prevent the loss of humanity within a "paradise of machines" that could invade and define daily life. "To simply say 'it's not going to happen' and close our eyes to the problem is probably not the most responsible way to deal with it," he stated.
International Governance and "Disarming" AI
In his first major encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas" ("Magnificent Humanity"), published in May, the Pope called for the "disarming" of AI to prevent it from dominating humanity. The Holy See has recently intensified its calls for international AI governance, prioritizing human dignity with a particular focus on nuclear technology, culture, and artistic creation.
