Pope Leo has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) needs to be “disarmed” with developers working for the common good rather than profit, in the first major teaching of his papacy.
‘Magnifica Humanitas’, or ‘Magnificent Humanity’, set out the challenges and opportunities posed by AI while “maintaining the human person”, with Pope Leo urging governments to slow its development and ensure its regulation.
The encyclical, traditionally a letter to Catholic bishops which has become a manifesto to the world, was presented at the Vatican alongside AI experts, including Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah.
“Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together”, the nearly 43,000-word text began.
Pope Leo also warned AI could lead humanity down a “path of unending war” because of how it can promote misinformation and put weapons “practically beyond” human control. He called for “robust legal frameworks, independent oversight, informed users and a political system that does not abdicate its responsibility” in response.
The Pope also urged people to create a “civilization of love”, an apparent reference to Gandalf in Lord Of The Rings, written by Catholic author J.R.R. Tolkien.
Laura Armstrong, an expert in the ethical adoption of AI, told Premier Christian News she valued how the Vatican had framed the discussion about “what mustn’t be taken from the human person”, as that will remain constant while “technology will leap and change in ways that we can't even imagine”.
Bishops have welcomed the teaching, with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales establishing a working group to consider the issues generated by AI.
Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia, Mark O’Toole, said it was “inspiring” Pope Leo chose to consider “the opportunities and challenges” the technology poses.
“We must seek to build a ‘civilisation of love’ rather than a ‘culture of power’ at global and local level. It is the beauty of a human face and voice which makes expressions of love real and warms the human heart. The true meaning of what it is to be human is found not in a machine but in the person of Jesus Christ, who guides us in the right path on how to use technology well”, Archbishop Mark said.