Pope Leo XIV criticizes AI power concentration in new encyclical
pope leo xiv published the encyclical magnifica humanitas, framing ai as an invisible infrastructure that concentrates power and demands 'disarming' to protect human dignity.
in his first encyclical, 'magnifica humanitas,' pope leo xiv addresses artificial intelligence not merely as a technological tool but as a pervasive force reshaping work, information, and collective choices. the document updates the social doctrine of 'rerum novarum' to the digital age, critiquing how the race for advanced models creates data monopolies and opaque decision-making systems. the pope proposes 'disarming technology,' a concept focused on decentralizing digital infrastructure to prevent ai from becoming an instrument of domination. he asserts that regulation alone is insufficient, calling instead for transparent systems open to a plurality of actors to safeguard truth and the common good.