Pope Leo XIV Raises Concerns Over Artificial Intelligence’s Impact on Society
The Vatican has become a new focal point in the global debate over artificial intelligence, with Pope Leo XIV urging caution against the unrestrained advancement of AI technologies. His remarks highlight increasing global apprehension regarding AI’s potential threats to privacy, employment, and security.
“Digital technology, when not properly managed, risks radically altering some of the fundamental pillars of human civilization, which we sometimes take for granted,” the pope expressed in a message delivered in Vatican City on Saturday.
With the Catholic Church’s 60th World Day of Social Communications approaching on May 17, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the need for global collaboration to mitigate AI’s risks, which he described as both subtle and enticing.
He warned that AI systems are increasingly producing texts, music, and videos, threatening the human creative industry’s integrity. “In recent years, artificial intelligence systems have increasingly taken control of the production of texts, music, and videos. Much of the human creative industry is thus at risk of being dismantled and replaced by the label ‘Powered by AI,’ turning people into mere passive consumers of unthought-out, anonymous products, devoid of authorship and love,” he explained.
The pontiff further noted the challenges in distinguishing human users from automated bots on social media, which can manipulate public opinion. He highlighted the effectiveness of chatbots using large linguistic models (LLMs) in covert persuasion, mimicking human emotions and interactions.
Pope Leo XIV also addressed the dangers of disinformation stemming from AI-generated content that lacks journalistic scrutiny, emphasizing the importance of reliable information gathering and verification.
In a nod to TIME’s recent recognition of AI architects as “2025 Person of the Year,” he voiced concerns about the concentrated control of AI technologies. “This raises significant concerns about the oligopoly’s control of algorithmic and AI systems capable of subtly shaping behavior and even rewriting the history of humanity — including the history of the Church — often without our realizing it,” he said.
Renowned historian Yuval Noah Harari also contributed to the discussion, cautioning world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos about AI’s potential to become an autonomous agent rather than a mere tool. Harari warned that AI’s decision-making capabilities could lead to an identity crisis for humanity.
“There is one question that every leader today must answer about AI. But to understand that question, we first need to clarify a few points about what AI is and what AI can do,” Harari stated. “The most important thing to know about AI is that it is not just another tool. It is an agent.”
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
