Pope Leo says AI must be 'disarmed' in first major teaching

Pope Leo presented *Magnifica Humanitas*, his first major encyclical, at the Vatican, declaring artificial intelligence must be 'disarmed' to prevent modern forms of exploitation. The document drew parallels between historical slavery and emerging 'digital slaveries,' urging moral accountability in AI development. It condemned AI’s role in warfare, stating no algorithm can justify war, and warned of conflicts becoming more impersonal and data-driven. The Pope also criticized AI’s manipulation of political narratives through biased or misleading media, likening inaction to the Church’s delayed response to slavery. The encyclical included a direct appeal to AI developers, emphasizing their ethical responsibility, as design choices reflect a 'vision of humanity.' Pope Leo convened a commission to address these concerns but acknowledged challenges in regulating rapid technological advancements. He compared current risks to the industrial revolution’s failures to protect human dignity, warning of 'digital colonialism' tied to colonial-era abuses. The document was released alongside AI experts, including Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, who acknowledged conflicts between AI incentives and ethical priorities. Olah stressed that AI’s implications require broader societal input beyond technical communities. The Pope’s stance marks a shift toward framing AI as a moral and spiritual issue, not just a technical one, urging global leaders to curb its threats. The encyclical also featured a historic Vatican apology for the Catholic Church’s role in slavery, calling it a source of 'deep sorrow' and 'humiliation.' Pope Leo linked AI’s risks to the normalization of exploitation, framing humanity at a moral crossroads similar to past ethical failures. The text highlighted AI’s potential to lower violence thresholds and depersonalize conflict, reducing victims to data points. While the document acknowledges AI’s benefits, it emphasizes the need for safeguards to prevent misuse in politics, warfare, and societal manipulation. Pope Leo’s commission will now explore practical steps, though its effectiveness remains uncertain against AI’s rapid evolution. The encyclical underscores the Vatican’s growing influence in shaping global debates on technology’s ethical boundaries.