Did Pope use AI to write his anti-AI encyclical? The internet is debating

Pope Leo XIV released *Magnifica Humanitas*, his first major encyclical, cautioning against unchecked AI development due to risks of misinformation, conflict, and job displacement. The document urges governments and tech firms to slow AI advancements, arguing concentrated control by private companies could exacerbate inequality. Online speculation erupted after researcher Linch Zhang analyzed the text, claiming AI detection tools like Pangram flagged portions—between 40% and 100% AI-generated in some sections—as well as nearly two-thirds of the first chapter. Zhang noted patterns linked to Anthropic’s Claude models, including repeated use of the word 'genuinely,' but acknowledged AI detection tools remain imperfect. Pangram’s false-positive rate is reportedly low, but tests on older papal encyclicals showed no AI markers, while Pope Leo’s public speech tested as fully human-written. Some suggest AI may have aided drafting or editing, while others humorously framed the debate as 'AI-generated warnings about AI.' The encyclical’s core message calls for stricter AI regulation, warning of political instability from AI-driven misinformation and economic harm from automation. Pope Leo also emphasized protecting children from AI-powered platforms, marking one of the Vatican’s strongest stances on AI risks to date.