Pope Leo XIV Issues AI Encyclical Warning of Concentrated Power

Pope Leo XIV released a new encyclical titled *Magnifica Humanitas* that addresses the challenges posed by artificial intelligence. The document warns that AI concentrates power in the hands of a few designers and platform owners and that control over data, infrastructure, and computing does not rest with states. It outlines two broad approaches: one that calls for stronger state and economic planning with social criteria to protect employment, retraining and worker participation when AI is introduced, and another that cautions against granting the state excessive authority to regulate technology.

The encyclical cites widespread public anxiety—71 % of Americans fear permanent job displacement due to AI—and argues that pre‑emptive bureaucratic approval of AI systems may be impractical and could stifle innovation, especially for startups and foreign competitors. It emphasizes the need for balanced policies that safeguard workers without hindering technological progress.