Pope Leo XIV issues warning on artificial intelligence
Pope Leo XIV has urged for “responsibility and discernment” in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) during his first press briefing since being elected as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
The pontiff acknowledged that AI has “immense potential” for the good of humanity, but echoed his predecessor, Pope Francis, as he warned it could also pose “new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labour”.
There has been a growing unease within both the Church, and broader civil society, about AI as its developments outpace regulatory frameworks.
Experts have warned of the cost to the environment after a report estimated that asking ChatGPT a question costs about 10 times the electricity that it does to Google it, leading a drastic increase in CO2 emissions from Big Tech. Teachers have raised concerns that students are using AI to cheat on papers, while studies have found it may put a huge number of jobs at risk.
Leo XIV, who was elected as the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, called AI was one of the great challenges of this era.
Cause for concern
The Pope, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, said that the responsibility for using artificial intelligence safely, “concerns everyone in proportion to his or her age and role in society”.
He also referenced the issue in his remarks Saturday, where he said he identified with his predecessor Francis, and spoke of another industrial revolution through AI.
“It has been clearly seen in the example of so many of my predecessors, and most recently by Pope Francis himself, with his example of complete dedication to service and to sober simplicity of life, his abandonment to God throughout his ministry and his serene trust at the moment of his return to the Father’s house. Let us take up this precious legacy and continue on the journey, inspired by the same hope that is born of faith,” said Pope Leo.
Pope Francis had become increasingly vocal about his concerns over AI and its potential threat to humanity during his time as head of the church.
In April, shortly before his passing, Francis urged people to “to look less at screens and look each other in the eyes more.”
“Let us pray that the use of the new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crises of our times,” he added.
US president Donald Trump recently posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed as a pope following the death of Pope Francis, sparking criticism.
The Pope also said: “Communication is not only the transmission of information, but it is also the creation of a culture, of human and digital environments that become spaces for dialogue and discussion. In looking at how technology is developing, this mission becomes ever more necessary. I am thinking in particular of artificial intelligence, with its immense potential, which nevertheless requires responsibility and discernment in order to ensure that it can be used for the good of all, so that it can benefit all of humanity. This responsibility concerns everyone in proportion to his or her age and role in society.”
John Duchi, an associate professor of statistics and electrical engineering at Stanford University, told Newsweek: “I am hopeful that if we recognise the importance of human contact, and we use AI systems to automate the ‘boring’ parts of our jobs so that we can increase our face-to-face interactions, I imagine that improves our lot.”
With AI’s reach expanding into education, health care, media and warfare, the Pope’s early intervention suggests that Catholic leadership intends to play a guiding role in global discussions about the future of human-machine relations.
Newsweek
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