Citing Gandalf, Pope Leo says we must "disarm" AI

Pope Leo XIV has issued his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas” (“Magnificent Humanity”), calling for the “disarmament” of artificial intelligence to serve the common good. Released in Rome alongside Anthropic’s co-founder, the 40,000-word document urges a fundamental shift in how AI is developed and deployed, warning against its use as a tool of domination, exclusion, and harm. The pope’s language is deliberately strong, aiming to awaken global consciences and chart a path toward a more humane technological future. The encyclical offers a comprehensive critique of AI-powered autonomous weapons, exploitative data practices, and the monopolization of digital assets such as patents, algorithms, and infrastructure. Pope Leo updates Catholic social teaching for the digital age, framing AI as the “res novae” or “new thing” of our time, akin to the industrial upheavals addressed in the 1891 encyclical “Rerum Novarum.” He calls for a “civilization of love” where technology serves humanity rather than subjugates it, emphasizing collective responsibility across all sectors of society to build a just and inclusive future. Highlighting the risks posed by concentrated control over health data and demographic information, the pope compares contemporary technological elites to colonial conquerors who extract and exploit vital resources. This data, often gathered under the guise of aid or research, can shape markets, influence policy, and determine who receives critical resources like medicine and investment. Pope Leo stresses the urgent moral imperative to transform shared knowledge into a genuine common good, warning that failure to do so could deepen inequalities and undermine human dignity. By invoking the metaphor of “disarmament,” Pope Leo XIV signals a call for global cooperation and ethical stewardship of AI technologies. His encyclical challenges governments, corporations, and civil society to rethink the role of AI in shaping humanity’s future, advocating for frameworks that prioritize equity, transparency, and the flourishing of all people in an increasingly digital world.