Pope Leo XIV with the co-founder of Anthropic in Rome today was released a major new encyclical— the first — called “Magnifica Humanitas” (“Magnificent Humanity”). It calls for AI to be “unfettered” to serve the common good.
“Words are powerful,” Leo admits, but he deliberately chose the language of “disarmament,” “because this moment needs words that draw attention, awaken consciences, and point the way forward for humanity.” Artificial intelligence today “must be freed from the logics that make it an instrument of domination, exclusion and death.”
The 40,000-word encyclical contains uncompromising criticism of AI-powered autonomous weapons, neocolonial attitudes to data collection and the accumulation of “new forms of property such as patents, algorithms, digital platforms, technological infrastructure and data”.
But the letter goes far beyond criticism and renewal Catholic social teaching in a way that encourages everyone to “build” – a favorite term of the Silicon Valley elite. (See venture capitalist Marc Andreessen’s popular 2020 essay, “Time to build.”)
According to Aslan, this “building” goes beyond code or startups, factories or apartments. It requires nothing less than the creation of a “civilization of love” where everyone works for the common good in their own sphere of life and where technology does not dominate, exclude or bypass humanity, but rather serves and enhances it.
Therefore, despite the fact that it was issued today, Leo actually signed the encyclical “” on May 15, the anniversary of the famous encyclical of 1891.New things” (“New Things”). That old document sets forth Catholic social teaching that largely sided with workers and unions in an era of capitalist insurgency. Today, Leo updates the church’s social teaching for the age of artificial intelligence.new things of our time”.
That new thing
As his predecessor did 135 years ago, Leo warns that individuals and humanity itself must not be left behind by technological advances or new forms of power. He is clear about the power that technological elites wield today, comparing them to colonial conquerors.
