Pope warns AI must serve common good, not diminish humanity

Pope Leo XIV on Friday addressed the International Catholic Legislators Network, warning that rapid advances in artificial intelligence pose fundamental moral questions about humanity's future. Speaking to lawmakers gathered in Rome, the pontiff demanded that political leaders ensure technological innovation serves the common good rather than diminishing human dignity.

"Every technological achievement also confronts humanity with a moral question: not merely what can we do, but what ought we to do?" he said. Leo noted that legislators bear responsibility for guiding innovation wisely without hindering scientific progress, calling for legislation that protects users from exploitation while ensuring transparency.

Risks of technological dependence

The pope cautioned that unchecked AI development risks creating new forms of technological dependence for poorer nations, potentially becoming an instrument of "ideological or economic colonialism." He pointed to concerns over opaque algorithms that determine "who is seen" or remains invisible on digital platforms, shaping public discourse without accountability.

Pope Leo emphasized that lawmakers must strengthen democratic institutions while defending fundamental freedoms and privacy rights. "The world does not need an artificial intelligence that diminishes humanity," he said, adding that "only then will artificial intelligence become not a rival to humanity but a servant of the common good."