Pope Leo XIV Warns AI Could Make Us 'Less Human' in New Manifesto

Pope Leo XIV issued his first encyclical on Monday, discussing artificial intelligence (AI), the transatlantic slave trade, and "just war" theory.

The Details: Leo warned that AI risks making civilization "less human" and called for its "disarming." The pope compared AI technology to the Biblical "Tower of Babel," writing, "The primary choice is not between a 'yes' or 'no' to technology, but rather between constructing Babel or rebuilding Jerusalem." Moreover, Wall Street Journal (Center bias) highlighted his warning that "technology is never neutral, because it takes on the characteristics of those who devise, finance, regulate, and use it" and called the risks of mass unemployment from AI "a true social calamity."

Appeals to Silicon Valley: Breitbart (Right) noted that the encyclical encouraged AI developers and political leaders to "use ethical and spiritual guidelines to make the choice to work not for their own profit or power, but the betterment of humanity." Breitbart also included the response from Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah, who said, "We need more of the world—religious communities, civil society, scholars, governments—to do what His Holiness has done here: to take this seriously, to look closely, and to push events in a better direction. We need moral voices that the incentives cannot bend."

Apologies for Slavery: CBS News (Lean Left) highlighted that Leo's encyclical also issued the first-ever apology for the Church's role in the transatlantic slave trade, calling it "a wound in Christian memory."

The War in Iran: Leo wrote, "It is important to reaffirm that the 'just war' theory, which has all too often been used to justify any kind of war, is now outdated." CBS reported that this statement "appeared to dismiss the argument that the conflict [in Iran] was a necessary preemptive measure for American safety."

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