Pope Leo XIV warns AI could become tool of ideological colonialism

Pope Leo XIV warned on Friday that rapid advances in artificial intelligence risk creating new forms of dependency, urging vigilance so that innovation does not become "another instrument of ideological or economic colonialism." Speaking to the International Catholic Legislators Network at the Vatican, he said poorer nations could become increasingly dependent on richer ones. Source: eldiado

The warning

Leo XIV described a "subtle form of domination" when algorithms decide who is visible, digital platforms shape public discourse without accountability, and workers' dignity is subordinated to system optimization. He called for robust legal frameworks, independent oversight, informed users, and political responsibility to ensure that "no ideology or particular interest dictates the values inherent to AI systems." Source: infobae

Family and legislation

He stressed that AI must not erode the family, "the first school of humanity," and urged legislators to promote policies strengthening marriage and family life. He also outlined that good legislation should foster scientific creativity while protecting users from exploitation, preserving privacy, ensuring transparency, and strengthening democratic institutions. Source: elconfidencial

What's next

Leo XIV has made technology and AI central to his pontificate, dedicating his first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," to the ethical and social implications of the technological revolution. In a related development, the Vatican used an AI-detection system to certify that a collection of his writings was human-authored, underscoring the importance of transparency in an age of generative AI. Source: elconfidencial