Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, is urging for a tempered approach to artificial intelligence (AI). He issued his first encyclical, titled Magnifica Humanitas or “Magnificent Humanity,” which focuses on the impact of AI on society. The 42,300-word document expresses concern over tech companies leading the future unchecked.
The Vatican ceremony highlighted the pope’s appeal to slow down and ensure human dignity. He emphasized that machines are not to be worshipped as deities. This message serves as a counter to Silicon Valley’s vision of AI dominance.
In his statement, Pope Leo XIV acknowledged AI’s potential benefits. Yet, he cautioned that the technology tends to strengthen the divide between those with vast resources and those without. He stressed that transparency is crucial to prevent AI creators from enforcing their ethical perspectives, which could covertly shape these systems.
Silicon Valley has long sought to project its transformative capabilities, tracing back to when computers occupied entire rooms. A popular tech industry joke features a programmer querying a computer about the existence of God, only for the computer to affirm its own divine role. References like this, found in the Whole Earth Catalog, historically inspired visionaries like Steve Jobs.
With significant capital funneled into AI development, tech leaders have signaled the materialization of past aspirations. They aim for transcendence through technology. Yet, Pope Leo XIV counters this narrative by advocating for human-centered progress.