Pope Leo Paints Bleak AI Future—With 'Tower Of Babel’ Warning—Without Human Control
Key takeaways
- The Pope also used his letter to issue the strongest papal condemnation of anti-migrant politics in years, sharply criticize modern capitalism and suggest climate destruction is a moral crime against the poor.
- "When a city is built on pride and the claim to self-sufficiency, communication breaks down, languages are confused and people no longer understand each other.
- The letter warns technological advancement could soon erode human freedom.
Topline Pope Leo XIV on Monday used his first encyclical to warn that humanity is using artificial intelligence, mass automation and rapid technological advancement to build a modern “Tower of Babel,” sharing an apocalyptic vision of a world defined by greed, immorality and lack of respect for human life.
Pope Leo XIV attends the presentation of his first Encyclical Letter "Magnifica Humanitas" focused on the rise of artificial intelligence, in The Vatican.AFP via Getty Images Key Facts The Pope issued an 83-page or open letter, titled “Magnifica Humanitas” (Magnificent Humanity) on Monday weighing in on capitalism, immigration and technological ambition in a statement already being described as one of the boldest encyclicals in decades.
The Catholic leader focused much of his address on the rapid advancement and implementation of artificial intelligence, theorizing tech companies are becoming more powerful than governments and warning the AI economy is akin to slavery and will create "second-class humans.”