Vatican Warns AI Threatens Humanity Calls For Action

Pope Leo XIVs Stark Warning on Artificial Intelligence

Pope Leo XIV has delivered a stark warning about artificial intelligence, identifying it as a significant threat to humanity. He emphasized the need for urgent global action, including the implementation of strict regulations on Big Tech companies.

During one of his first major addresses as pontiff, Leo told a room full of cardinals at the Vatican, “Today, the church offers its trove of social teaching to respond to another industrial revolution and to innovations in the field of artificial intelligence that pose challenges to human dignity, justice and labor.” These remarks were delivered during his first formal audience with the College of Cardinals in the Synod Hall of the Vatican on May 10 and were subsequently reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Pope Leo XIV sounded the alarm about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence during an address to cardinals at the Vatican last month. AFP via Getty Images

Vatican Engages Tech Giants on AI Ethics

The Vatican is actively engaging with the technology sector, hosting executives from prominent firms such as IBM, Cohere, Anthropic, and Palantir for a major summit on AI ethics this week. While Pope Leo is expected to issue a written message concerning AI, he has not yet held private meetings with tech CEOs.

Further discussions are anticipated, with Microsoft President Brad Smith expected to meet Vatican officials later this month. Google is also in discussions for a future audience with the pope.

The Looming Impact of AI on Global Labor

The concerns raised by the Vatican are underscored by projections about AI's impact on the workforce. By 2040, artificial intelligence is projected to automate or significantly transform 50% to 60% of jobs globally. Some estimates suggest this figure could rise to as high as 80% by 2050.

Specific forecasts, such as one from McKinsey, indicate that 30% of US jobs could be automated by 2030. Goldman Sachs estimates that up to 300 million jobs worldwide, approximately 25% of the global labor force, may be affected. However, labor-intensive roles like construction, maintenance, and skilled trades are expected to show more resilience against automation.

A Papal Agenda Focused on AIs Moral Challenges

From the outset of his papacy, the first American pope has signaled that addressing the challenges of AI will be a central theme of his agenda.

Pope Leo XIV told cardinals at the Vatican last month that artificial intelligence “pose[s] challenges to human dignity, justice and labor.” LALAKA – stock.adobe.com

By choosing the name Leo, he draws a direct link to Pope Leo XIII, known as the “Pope of the Workers” in the 19th century. This choice highlights a parallel between the societal upheavals of the industrial era and the current digital revolution driven by AI. The 267th pope is positioning himself as a moral counterweight to tech companies, which have been actively engaging with the Vatican for years.

Continuing the Call for AI Oversight and Regulation

The Church, under both Pope Francis and now Pope Leo XIV, has consistently advocated for legally binding global regulations to manage unchecked AI development. Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi conveyed to the Journal, “Leo XIV wants the worlds of science and politics to immediately tackle this problem without allowing scientific progress to advance with arrogance, harming those who have to submit to its power.”

This focus on AI oversight builds upon the work of Pope Francis, who became increasingly vocal about the dangers of emerging technologies in his later years. Francis, who humorously admitted his limited computer skills, evolved into a prominent voice on the subject, warning of a potential “technological dictatorship” and describing AI as both “fascinating and terrifying.”

The Vatican this week is hosting executives from firms including IBM, Cohere, Anthropic and Palantir for a major summit on AI ethics. Getty Images

In 2020, the Vatican published the “Rome Call for AI Ethics,” which received backing from companies like Microsoft and IBM. This initiative urged AI developers to design systems that respect privacy, uphold human rights, and ensure non-discrimination. Notably, some major tech companies, including Google and OpenAI, have not yet endorsed this call.

Pope Francis's engagement with AI issues intensified after a viral AI-generated image of him in a white puffer jacket in 2023 highlighted AI's potential to distort reality. He subsequently cautioned world leaders that decisions made by machines must not supersede human decision-making.

The Imperative for Independent AI Governance

Pope Leo XIV, who holds a mathematics degree and possesses a deeper understanding of technology than his predecessor, is expected to elevate the Church's advocacy on AI. Vatican officials and clergy view it as a moral imperative to act as a global conscience against what they perceive as a potentially dehumanizing technological force.

“These tools shouldn’t be demonized, but they need to be regulated,” stated Cardinal Versaldi. He further questioned the credibility of self-regulation by tech companies: “The question is, who will regulate them? It’s not credible for them to be regulated by their makers. There needs to be a superior authority.”