Pope Leo warns AI could make life more impersonal

Pope Leo warned on Wednesday (September 16) that the growing use of artificial intelligence risked making human relationships impersonal and encouraged people to hand key decisions over to algorithms.

Leo said AI and digital technology were creating new opportunities and bringing people closer, but warned they could also make relationships less personal and lead people to delegate "decisions that are the sole preserve of the human conscience" to algorithms.

His comments come ahead of a meeting hosted by Britain’s King Charles this week with executives from major AI companies including Nvidia, Google DeepMind, OpenAI and Anthropic to discuss principles for developing the technology in ways that benefit society and uphold human dignity. Vatican AI adviser Paolo Benanti is also expected to attend.

Leo has repeatedly called for safeguards around artificial intelligence, arguing that technology should remain subject to human judgement, conscience and responsibility. His first encyclical, published in May, warned against fully delegating sensitive decisions affecting people’s lives to automated systems.

Production by: Gabriele Pileri/Reuters