AI debated as a significant challenge by Pope Leo XIV
Get the scoop on Pope Leo XIV's first address!
The newly-elected Pope Leo XIV has taken the reins of the Catholic Church and, in his inaugural meeting with cardinals, named artificial intelligence (AI) as one of the most significant challenges humanity currently faces, according to Al Jazeera.
During his speech in the Vatican on Saturday, Leo XIV shared his vision for his papacy, sounding the alarm over AI's potential threats to "human dignity, justice, and labor." Indeed, his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, shared a similar perspective, admonishing AI for its potential to distort human relationships by reducing them to mere algorithms, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Embracing the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, the pontiff explained why he chose his name. Known as the protector of worker's rights during his papacy from 1878 to 1903, Papa Leo XIII lived at the dawn of the industrial era and composed the encyclical letter “Rerum Novarum” in 1891. The letter explored the impact of the industrial revolution on workers’ lives and the exploitation that was occurring at the time.
In his final days, Pope Francis cautioned about AI, warning of the risks it poses to human relationships and insisting on the necessity for an international treaty to regulate it.
Kicking off his speech with a call for peace, Leo XIV echoed Francis's concerns, previously emphasizing the importance of maintaining human oversight over AI-powered decisions to prevent machines from decisions about the use of weapons, as shared with the G7 last year.
Written in Italian, Leo XIV's speech regularly referenced Francis and his vision, indicating his intent to maintain the legacy of the church's most recent former pope. This is the first time in history that a pope hails from the United States, with his election taking place on May 8, the day following the commencement of the conclave, and landing him the role after four rounds of cardinals' voting.
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Enrichment Data:
- Pope Francis, the precursor to Pope Leo XIV, had significant concerns about AI's impact on human dignity, justice, and labor. As his tenure came to a close, he increased his vocal opposition to AI, expecting it could erode vital human values, such as compassion, mercy, ethical standards, and forgiveness[1][3].
- Francis championed the development and application of AI with an ethical lens. He highlighted the importance of human oversight, particularly regarding AI-driven decisions concerning weapons or non-lethal force, asserting that only humans should have the power to make these decisions[1][3].
- Pope Leo XIV, inspired by Francis's legacy, flagged AI as a crucial modern challenge to human dignity, justice, and labor, aligning with the teachings of the Church that address earlier industrial revolution-related issues[1][2][3].
- Francis's concerns about AI center around ensuring human dignity, justice, and labor are protected from the perils of unbridled technological advancement. He sought global cooperation and treaties to govern AI ethically, a stance that Pope Leo XIV has adopted and vows to continue throughout his papacy[1][3].
Technology and artificial intelligence continue to be significant challenges that Pope Leo XIV, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Pope Francis, has identified as threats to "human dignity, justice, and labor." In his inaugural speech, Leo XIV urged the necessity for human oversight over AI-powered decisions to prevent machines from making decisions about the use of weapons, a stance that aligns with Francis's ethical approach towards AI development and application.
