Pope Leo Warns on AI Risks

Pope Leo XIV on Monday issued a 42,300-word papal encyclical, titled “Magnifica Humanitas,” warning global leaders and individuals about the disruptive effects of artificial intelligence (AI) and advocating for the protection of human dignity and agency. The document, released in Europe, emphasizes the need for safeguards against AI's potential to displace human labor and undermine social stability.

The encyclical calls for government regulation of AI development, protection and retraining for workers affected by automation, and educational initiatives to foster critical thinking about the technology. It also stresses the importance of protecting children from harmful online content generated by AI and ensuring human responsibility for decisions involving autonomous weapons. Pope Leo presented the encyclical alongside Christopher Olah, co-founder of AI developer Anthropic, symbolizing a dialogue between spiritual and technological leadership.

This declaration follows Pope Leo's consistent focus on AI risks since his papacy began, echoing his predecessor Pope Francis's concerns regarding ethical technology use. The timing of the encyclical, signed on May 15, aligns with the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's “Rerum Novarum,” a foundational text on workers' rights during the Industrial Revolution, drawing parallels between past and present technological disruptions.