What the Pope Said About A.I.

The encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas” argues that moral concerns and respect for human beings should be central to artificial intelligence work. Earlier calls urged AI developers to cultivate moral discernment as a fundamental part of their work. The document criticizes AI companies for ignoring the value of human beings and humanity. It contrasts moral and human-centered aims with incentives focused on profit, competitive advantage, and efficiency. It also challenges the tendency of tech leaders to frame corporate missions in religious or messianic terms while pursuing disruptive innovation. The piece emphasizes that claims of improving the world must be evaluated against whether human dignity is actually protected.

"Leo XIV's new encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," presents a remarkable case for placing moral concerns, and not profit, or competitive advantage, or efficiency, at the center of any discussion of artificial intelligence."

"Last year, only months into his papacy, Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, called on developers of artificial intelligence "to cultivate moral discernment as a fundamental part of their work." In response, the Silicon Valley billionaire and troll-in-chief Marc Andreessen began mocking the pontiff by tweeting an idiotic meme at him. The Pope raised the grave concern that artificial-intelligence companies were "totally ignoring the value of human beings and of humanity"; the venture capitalist Peter Thiel reportedly wondered whether the Pope might be in league with the Antichrist."

"For years-for decades-tech leaders have described their investments and inventions, their corporations, and even themselves in religious terms, and specifically in messianic terms. They claimed to be driven by a mission to make the world a better place; they were faithful to the misbegotten gospel of disruptive innovation. A "mission" is, historically, the Christian work of spreading the word of the Gospel; disruptive innovation is a theory of change that participates in the rhetoric of salvation."

"For a time, Facebook's stated mission was "to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together," which is what most clergy of any faith might say is their mission, too, alongside caring for the poor and comforting the suffering. Tech executives, dressed in the ritualized vestments of hoodies, jeans, designer sneakers, and black T-shirts, have acted as if their companies were"

Read at The New Yorker