Pope Leo XIV warns about AI’s effects on children

Pope Leo XIV issued a warning about artificial intelligence’s (AI) effects on youth in a message addressed to participants of the Second Annual Rome Conference on Artificial Intelligence, part of which was taking place in the Vatican.

The pope cautioned that young people, who now have access to great amounts of information available through AI, could suffer from negative impacts on their development.

“All of us, I am sure, are concerned for children and young people, and the possible consequences of the use of AI on their intellectual and neurological development. Our youth must be helped, and not hindered, in their journey towards maturity and true responsibility,” Pope Leo XIV said.

Although the pope addressed AI’s potential for good, he also noted “the possibility of its misuse for selfish gain at the expense of others, or worse, to foment conflict and aggression.”

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He added that the benefits or risks of AI must be evaluated “according to a superior ethical criterion”, specifically, safeguarding the dignity of each human being, while respecting cultural riches and diversity. Additionally, he noted that “access to data — however extensive — must not be confused with intelligence.”

The American pope, who was elected in May after the death of Pope Francis, is allegedly making the potential AI threat a signature issue of his pontificate, addressing the dangers that it holds for “human dignity, justice and labor.”