- Pope Leo XIV has released a 200-page encyclical titled “Magnifica Humanitas,” focusing on protecting humans in the AI era while emphasizing that inequality, war, and democratic decline are the core risks.
- The document argues that AI controlled by a small elite group will struggle to serve the common good, as concentrated power increases manipulation, exclusion, and social dependence.
- The message warns that AI is amplifying the power of those who own data, capital, and expertise, helping them shape information, consumption, and democratic processes for their own interests.
- The Pope appeared alongside Chris Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, to announce the document, signaling the Vatican’s desire for direct dialogue with the AI industry.
- The document was released shortly after Donald Trump delayed an executive order on AI oversight in the US, reportedly due to influence from tech investor David Sacks.
- The Pope called for an end to the AI race aimed at geopolitical and commercial dominance through larger models and massive data.
- He emphasized that disarmament is not just about reducing weapons but also rejecting the assumption that technical power automatically grants the right to rule.
- Law professor Paolo Carozza warned that deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation are destroying the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood, with serious consequences for democratic politics.
📌 The Vatican’s first AI encyclical does not focus on technology but targets the power structures behind AI. The 200-page document warns that data, algorithms, and political influence are concentrating in the hands of a tech elite, thereby undermining democracy, cognitive freedom, and public oversight. The Pope calls for AI control through transparency mechanisms, effective monitoring, and social participation instead of allowing the AI race to continue escalating.
