Newly Elected Pope Labels AI a Pressing Global Issue

The newly elected Pope, Robert Prevost, has identified artificial intelligence as one of the most pressing issues facing humanity.

In his inaugural address, the head of the Roman Catholic Church stated that the Church will act as a guide in response to “developments in AI that pose new challenges to the protection of human dignity, justice, and labor.”

He noted that he continues the work of his predecessor, who “addressed social issues in the context of the first great industrial revolution.”

Prevost has taken the name Leo XIV, in honor of Pope Leo XIII (Gioacchino Pecci), who led the Roman Catholics until 1903 and dealt with social issues during the 19th-century industrial revolution.

The Vatican has already begun using artificial intelligence to digitize and index its vast Apostolic Archive, enabling researchers to access the Church’s centuries-old history more efficiently.

According to officials, the technology will help preserve fragile manuscripts and uncover connections between texts that might otherwise remain buried.

The previous Pope, Francis, during a G7 summit, called for a ban on the use of artificial intelligence in warfare and the development of ethical frameworks for the technology.

In December 2023, the pontiff expressed concern that the global community might fall into a spiral of “technological dictatorship” due to the potential unethical use of AI.