Pope Leo XIV addresses AI ethics and labor dignity

During an apostolic visit to Argentina, Pope Leo XIV addressed the intersection of technology, ethics, and labor. Speaking at the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA) to an audience of business leaders, union representatives, and academics, the Pontiff warned that unregulated automation and artificial intelligence pose significant risks to human dignity and employment. He emphasized that the economy must serve the person rather than the person serving the economy, asserting that depriving an individual of work is a violation of their fundamental dignity.

The Pope’s recent encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” further explores these themes, arguing that technology is not neutral and must be guided by a moral framework to prevent the concentration of power in private entities. He specifically cautioned against granting legal personality to AI systems, stating that machines are instruments and not persons, a stance intended to ensure human accountability.

In addition to his remarks on technology, the Pope advocated for social inclusion, calling on unions to represent informal workers and urging governments to implement stable policies for full employment. He also highlighted the life of Enrique Shaw, a Catholic businessman, as an example of integrating faith with social responsibility in the corporate world.