Vatican and Anthropic: An Alliance Against AI

The Vatican is preparing to host a major event on May 25, where Pope Leo XIV will present a new encyclical titled "Magnifica humanitas." This document, signed on May 15, marks a departure from tradition, as encyclicals are typically presented by cardinals. Leo XIV addresses a hot topic: the impact of artificial intelligence on society.

The encyclical, which will be unveiled at a public event in the Vatican, discusses the consequences of AI on human work and condemns its use for military purposes. These concerns align with Leo XIV's previous statements, where he emphasized the importance of protecting human dignity in the face of this "new industrial revolution."

Leo XIV signed this encyclical exactly 135 years after Leo XIII signed his famous text "Rerum Novarum," which addressed workers' rights during the industrial revolution. Leo XIV revealed that he chose his name in honor of Leo XIII, a significant figure from that era.

Among the distinguished guests at this event are Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, as well as theologians Anna Rowlands and Léocadie Lushombo. Their presence underscores the importance of the interaction between technology and ethical and religious values.

Anthropic consulted a priest during the creation of the "constitution" for its chatbot Claude, a set of rules intended to guide the model's behavior. This approach could enhance Anthropic's image as an ethical company in the field of AI.

Earlier this year, Leo XIV published a message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications titled "Preserving Human Voices and Faces." In this text, he warned against systems that imitate human voices, faces, or even empathy, highlighting the risks of profound disruptions in human relationships.

The Vatican, under the pontificates of Francis and now Leo XIV, remains vigilant regarding technological excesses, insisting on the protection of human dignity. Despite the historical contradictions of the institution, the Church continues to firmly uphold the value of humanity, a principle sometimes perceived as lacking in certain major tech companies.