US Catholic Bishops warn of AI risks and economic instability

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a statement for Labor Day highlighting economic uncertainties facing young people and vulnerable communities. Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, emphasized that work is a way of participating in creation and should honor human dignity.

The statement addresses several economic challenges, including wage stagnation, high unemployment rates among certain demographics, and the rising cost of living. It notes that approximately 70% of Americans surveyed in 2025 viewed having children as economically unaffordable.

A significant portion of the message focuses on the risks posed by artificial intelligence. Citing the encyclical 'Magnifica Humanitas' by Pope Leo XIV, the bishops warned of AI-driven risks such as de-skilling, increased surveillance, job insecurity, and heightened inequality. The USCCB called for the development of systems centered on the human person rather than solely on performance and productivity.