Pope Leo XIV warns of AI risks and calls for digital ethics

Pope Leo XIV has issued a series of warnings and ethical guidelines regarding the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and digital technologies. Speaking at a conference held by the International Institute of Administrative Sciences in Rome, the Pontiff expressed concern that the speed of AI innovation may outpace humanity's ability to control these machines, potentially turning people into victims of their own inventions.

In his recent encyclical, ‘Magnifica Humanitas’, the Pope advocates for a human-centered approach to technology. He emphasized the need for an ethical framework to ensure that digital tools serve peace and the common good rather than being driven solely by the interests of powerful corporations. He specifically cautioned against delegating critical life decisions to machines and warned against transhumanist ideologies that treat the human person as mere matter to be perfected or surpassed.

The Pope encouraged researchers and public administrators to work toward the ‘humanization’ of digital technologies, ensuring that progress does not come at the expense of human dignity, labor, or social equality.