Pope Leo XIV Urges AI to Empower Humanity, Warns Against Dehumanization and Injustice

Pope Leo XIV addressed the dangers of artificial intelligence during his speech at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris, emphasizing that new technologies must “remain at the service of the human person” and avoid becoming “yet another instrument of domination and injustice.”

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Speaking as part of his four-day visit to France, the pontiff cautioned that AI risks impoverishing human “ideas and relationships” through a “process of dehumanisation,” while also criticizing modern societies’ growing obsession with productivity.

He argued that judging people by the “criterion of efficiency” undermines human dignity, leading to the rejection and discarding of “those who are no longer productive.”

Artificial intelligence has become a central theme of the Pope’s papacy. In May, he released his first 42,300-word encyclical, “Magnifica humanitas,” addressing the risks of unchecked AI and advocating for regulatory oversight.

During his address, the Pope emphasized the need to protect children from exploitation, stating that their “vulnerability” must “never become an opportunity for abuse.”

European policymakers are actively addressing online harms affecting youth, with initiatives like school device bans and the European Commission’s proposed Kids Act, which could restrict social media access for those under 13.

‘The most terrible of human works is war’

The Pope also spoke on peace, referencing UNESCO’s motto: “since wars begin in the minds of women and men, it is in the minds of women and men that the defences of peace must be constructed.”

His remarks coincided with ongoing global conflicts, including the Middle East crisis and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

He declared that “scientific progress, when severed from wisdom, can turn into a weapon of destruction,” underscoring the need for ethical guidance in technological advancement.

The Pope addressed international institutions, noting their dual role as essential for tackling global challenges yet facing effectiveness crises, particularly when dialogue is seen as a barrier to action.

Calls for “greater trust” included urging acceptance of differences and collaboration through “sincere dialogue to achieve outcomes beyond individual capacity.”

The remarks followed the U.S. decision to withdraw from UNESCO in 2026, citing concerns over its perceived cultural divisiveness and misalignment with American values.

A morning visit to the Elysée

Earlier, the Pope visited the Elysée Palace in Paris, welcomed by President Emmanuel Macron and notable guests, including first responders to the Notre-Dame fire.

He reaffirmed the sanctity of life, a key point of contention between the French government and the Catholic Church, particularly amid France’s 2024 constitutional abortion rights and recent euthanasia legislation.

The Pope described the “right to life” as “the indispensable foundation to every other human right,” while criticizing nuclear weapons and rejecting the “mistaken belief” in their deterrent role.

Following his UNESCO address, he toured Paris in a popemobile, attended Vespers at Notre-Dame, and led a youth prayer vigil at Stade de France.

Source link