Pope Leo XIV addresses AI risks in Magnifica Humanitas

Pope Leo XIV has addressed the challenges posed by artificial intelligence in his encyclical, ‘Magnifica Humanitas’. The document emphasizes the need for wisdom and discernment when integrating technology into human life.

A central concern involves the impact of AI on truth and education. The Pope warns that the speed and ease of obtaining AI-generated answers risk extinguishing the human desire to ask deep questions, which is a process that requires time and effort. He cautions against a ‘technocratic paradigm’ that views progress as surpassing the human condition, specifically noting the risks associated with transhumanism and posthumanism.

In the realm of education, the encyclical suggests that human thought must not be rendered superfluous by the pursuit of quick intellectual products. The Pope calls for exercising restraint in the use of AI to protect the process of learning and to ensure that technology is used within a framework of moral wisdom and conscience.