Heed Pope Leo’s warning on AI dangers — and don’t let Big Tech police itself

New York Post - May 13th, 2025

Pope Leo XIV issued a stark warning about the rise of artificial intelligence, highlighting new challenges for human dignity, justice, and labor. Drawing parallels to the industrial revolution faced by Pope Leo XIII, he emphasized that the current technological revolution could have even more profound effects. The Pope's statements come amidst concerns over AI's potential to replace mental tasks traditionally performed by humans, exemplified by issues like deepfake technology and AI-generated content. The Pope's warning underscores the need for diverse voices in discussions about AI's future, beyond just tech professionals and politicians.

The implications of AI's rise are vast, with predictions from the World Economic Forum suggesting significant job displacement over the next five years. This shift in the job market raises fundamental questions about human value and skills development in an AI-dominated world. The appointment of David Sacks as America's AI czar highlights the government's involvement, but Pope Leo XIV argues for broader societal input. He calls for the inclusion of church leaders, theologians, philosophers, and other deep thinkers in guiding AI's trajectory, ensuring that technology serves human dignity, justice, and the common good, rather than narrow corporate interests.

Artificial Intelligence Ai Ethics David Sacks World Economic Forum Job Displacement Pope Leo Xiv Human Dignity

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RATING

6.0

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article effectively highlights the challenges posed by AI, aligning with Pope Leo XIV's warnings. It addresses timely and relevant issues that are of significant public interest, such as the ethical implications of AI and its impact on jobs. However, the article lacks balance and transparency, with a critical tone that may skew the reader's perception. The absence of citations and diverse perspectives limits the reliability and depth of the analysis. While it has the potential to influence public opinion and provoke debate, the article would benefit from more comprehensive sourcing and a balanced presentation of viewpoints.

Accuracy

The article accurately reports Pope Leo XIV's statements about AI posing challenges to human dignity, justice, and labor, as confirmed by his public address. The choice of the papal name in tribute to Leo XIII is also correct. However, the claim about AI making most First World jobs obsolete is speculative and not definitively supported by current data. The World Economic Forum's job impact figures are plausible but should be cross-checked with the latest reports. The mention of Donald Trump appointing David Sacks as AI czar requires additional verification from official sources.

Balance

The article presents a perspective that is critical of AI and its potential societal impacts, aligning with Pope Leo XIV's concerns. However, it lacks a balanced viewpoint by not including perspectives that might highlight the positive aspects of AI or potential solutions to the issues raised. The article predominantly reflects a cautious and somewhat alarmist tone, potentially skewing the reader's perception.

Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language and structure, effectively conveying the main points about the challenges posed by AI. However, the tone is somewhat alarmist, which may affect the neutrality of the presentation. The logical flow is maintained, but the lack of supporting evidence for some claims could confuse readers about their validity.

Source quality

The article does not explicitly cite sources for many of its claims, such as the World Economic Forum's job impact predictions. While it references Pope Leo XIV's statements, it does not provide direct links or citations to his speeches or documents. The lack of diverse and authoritative sources limits the reliability of the information presented.

Transparency

The article lacks transparency in its sourcing and methodology. It does not disclose how the claims were verified or the sources used to support the assertions made. There is minimal context provided about the basis for the claims, such as the specific speech or document from Pope Leo XIV. This lack of transparency affects the reader's ability to assess the impartiality and credibility of the article.