AI must serve humans, rather than 'become an instrument of domination and injustice', pope warns
Pope Leo XIV, who has made AI a central component of his pontificate, warned against the dangers of the technology at UNESCO.
On Friday, Pope Leo XIV cautioned against the perils of artificial intelligence, asserting that new technologies should remain subservient to the human person, not evolving into tools of domination and injustice. While addressing UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris as part of his four-day French visit, the pontiff warned that AI could dehumanize human "ideas and relationships" and undermine respect for dignity, potentially leading to the rejection of those no longer deemed productive.
Stressing the need for safeguards, especially for children, the Pope urged that their vulnerability should never be exploited. European policymakers have been striving to protect children online, with some measures already in place and the European Commission proposing stricter restrictions on social media access for children under 13.
The Pope also touched upon war, echoing UNESCO’s motto that wars originate in the minds of individuals. He stressed that scientific progress, divorced from wisdom, could become a destructive weapon. Turning to international institutions, he noted mixed feelings about their effectiveness, citing dialogue as an obstacle to action and calling for increased trust in sincere dialogue.
Amid political tensions, such as the US withdrawing from UNESCO, the Pope reiterated the importance of the right to life, a contentious issue in France, where abortion and assisted dying laws have sparked debates. His speech precedes his Vespers prayer vigil with young people at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
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