A day after he was elected, Pope Leo XIV told the College of Cardinals that artificial intelligence (AI) should be treated as a serious social and ethical matter. With the tech industry making significant advancements in AI every year, the new pope said artificial intelligence has the potential to both innovate and disrupt. Although the technology can be a force for good, Pope Leo XIV noted that recent improvements in artificial intelligence technology present new obstacles to defending human labor, dignity, and justice.
The Pontiff likened the ongoing artificial intelligence boom to the 19th century’s Industrial Revolution, a period that was characterized by significant economic growth as well as poor working conditions and labor abuses. Pope Leo XIV’s comparison of the Industrial Revolution and AI wasn’t a coincidence; his papal name was chosen in honor of Pope Leo XIII, a Pontiff who was referred to as the ‘Pope of the Workers’ when the world was industrializing.
Leo XIII penned an open letter dubbed the ‘Rerum Novarum’, an encyclical that addressed working-class conditions during the Industrial Revolution, Boston College philosophy professor Father Philip Larrey says. Understanding that the world is currently going through a digital revolution, the former Pontifical Lateran University Philosophy Department dean notes, Pope Leo XIV wants to do what Leo XIII did in the 19th century.
According to Father Larrey, Leo XIII illuminated the Church’s role in defending human dignity in a world that was rapidly changing, articulating a social doctrine that encouraged equitable wealth distribution and just wages, and discouraged child labor. He believes that Pope Leo XIV will present new ideas to help guide the Church and the world at large during the digital revolution.
Associate Professor Joseph Vukov from Loyola University Chicago’s philosophy department also believes that Leo XIV is preparing the Catholic Church to address the challenges that will undoubtedly come with the digital era with moral clarity. Last month, results from a simulation involving Claude Opus 4, an AI model developed by American AI startup Anthropic, underscored Pope Leo XIV’s concerns about artificial intelligence.
Faced with the likelihood of replacement, the AI model tried to blackmail a virtual engineer, threatening to expose an extramarital affair if it was removed. The incident underscored the potential dangers of becoming reliant on computer systems with increasing autonomy, particularly if there aren’t strong ethical guardrails in place.
Building on the foundation laid by Pope Francis, the Vatican has already taken an active role in global discussions about artificial intelligence. It hosted multiple international forums exploring the ethical, social, and technological implications of AI, and in 2020, joined IBM, Microsoft, and other organizations in signing the Call for an AI Ethics.
Pope Leo XIV is expected to expand on this work, strengthening the Church’s voice in shaping the future of AI. His early attention to the issue signals a commitment to ensuring that principles of human dignity, justice, and the common good guide AI development.
The Pope’s opinions on AI go to show that artificial intelligence solutions from various companies like D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) have started having groundbreaking effects in different industries and that leaders are taking note while also providing input on how this new technology can be harnessed for the greater good.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/QBTS
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