Pope Leo XIV’s AI Encyclical: A Call for ‘Magnificent Humanity’ Amidst Tech’s Moral Crossroads

In a historic move, Pope Leo XIV released his encyclical ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ (‘Magnificent Humanity’), addressing the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and its moral implications. The document calls for ‘disarming’ AI technology and warns of a new form of slavery where a privileged few benefit while the masses suffer under surveillance and efficiency. At the Vatican ceremony, Chris Olah, cofounder of Anthropic and an atheist, acknowledged the industry’s conflicting incentives, stating that ‘every frontier AI lab operates inside a set of incentives and constraints that can sometimes conflict with doing the right thing.’ This rare insider perspective highlights the internal struggles within AI companies. The encyclical also draws parallels to the Tower of Babel, urging a collaborative rebuilding of common humanity rather than relentless growth. Meanwhile, institutional investors, including faith-based groups, have already been filing shareholder resolutions demanding transparency and accountability from tech giants like Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, and others. They emphasize that AI is a commercial product, not a force of nature, and must be guided by ethical oversight. The encyclical serves as a moral foundation for ongoing efforts to regulate AI, advocating for dialog and restraint in an industry hurtling towards AGI.