Leon XIV and AI: A Historic Encyclical with Anthropic

Pope Leo XIV is set to mark an important milestone in his papacy by personally presenting his encyclical titled "Magnifica Humanitas" on May 25. This document, focused on the protection of human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence, will be unveiled in a context where ethical concerns surrounding AI are becoming increasingly pressing.

Christopher Olah, co-founder of the AI company Anthropic, has been invited to participate as a speaker. Olah, who leads research on interpretability at Anthropic, will bring his expertise on understanding powerful AI models. His presence could spark a crucial debate on the safety of these systems: can they be sufficiently understood to be trustworthy?

The encyclical is expected to address sensitive themes, including the condemnation of the use of AI in armed conflicts and the negative effects of this technology on workers' rights. These topics resonate with the Church's historical concerns, similar to those expressed during industrialization.

The document was signed by Leo XIV on May 15, a symbolic date marking the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's encyclical "Rerum novarum." The latter advocated for better working conditions during the Industrial Revolution. By choosing the name Leo XIII, the current pope emphasizes the significance of the AI revolution as a major societal turning point, necessitating a clear response from the Church.

Leo XIV, the first American pope, has made artificial intelligence a central theme of his papacy, repeatedly expressing his concerns about the risks associated with this technology. Encyclicals, as elevated forms of papal teaching, aim to guide the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide on essential issues.