Italian experts weigh AI's role in psychotherapy and economic policy

Psychologist and psychotherapist Francesca Mastrantonio raised doubts about the feasibility of AI‑driven psychotherapy, noting that scientific consensus is lacking and that the therapeutic relationship between two people is essential. She warned that replacing the human element with an artificial system could undermine the emotional connection that underlies therapeutic change.

The Catholic Church’s 2026 encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" addressed the economic implications of artificial intelligence, reaffirming the dignity of work and warning that efficiency‑focused models may marginalise workers. The document calls for pre‑emptive governance of AI, emphasizing transparency, responsibility, inclusion, equitable taxation, social protections and industrial policies to curb wealth concentration and preserve the common good.