The Pope calls for coordinated action from all of society to regulate AI

Pope Leo XIV asked this Friday to reflect on “the possible consequences of technology on the intellectual and neurological development” of young people and called for “a coordinated action” from all sectors of society to regulate artificial intelligence.

“The arrival of artificial intelligence brings with it rapid and profound changes in society, affecting essential human characteristics, such as critical thinking, the ability to discern, learning, and interpersonal relationships,” said Leo XIV in a speech upon receiving the members of the Centesimus Annus Foundation on the occasion of the seminar “Artificial intelligence and care for our common home” held in Rome. The Pope asked himself: “How can we ensure that the development of artificial intelligence truly serves the common good, and not simply the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few? This is an urgent question, as this technology already has a tangible impact on the lives of millions of people, every day and around the world,” he added.

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And above all, the American and Peruvian pontiff urged a reflection: “On a concern that should touch our hearts: the freedom and spirituality of our children and young people, with the possible consequences of technology on their intellectual and neurological development.” According to Leo XIV, faced with “the fundamental questions” of existence, “realities often marginalized and even ridiculed by the prevailing cultural and development models (…) it will be crucial that young people learn to use these tools with their own intelligence, open to the search for truth, to a spiritual and fraternal life, expanding their dreams and the horizons of their mature decisions”.

To “build a future with our young people who, also through the potential of artificial intelligence, achieve the common good” requires, the Pope said, “a coordinated and concerted action involving politics, institutions, businesses, finance, education, communications, citizenship and religious communities”.

“All these actors are called to fulfill a common commitment by assuming this shared responsibility. A commitment that puts any profit and vested interests first, increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few,” the pontiff warned. And he added that “only through broad participation, allowing all voices, even the most humble, to be heard with respect, will it be possible to achieve these ambitious goals”.