Pope Leo XIV has raised concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on mental and intellectual development of young people.
Gatekeepers News reports that the pope warned that it may distort their perception of reality.
The American-born pontiff highlighted the potential risks AI poses to younger generations in a message delivered on Friday to participants at the Second Rome Conference on AI.
He said, “All of us… are concerned for children and young people, and the possible consequences of the use of AI on their intellectual and neurological development.”
The pope noted that no generation has ever had such rapid and widespread access to information as the current one. However, he cautioned that access to vast amounts of data must not be mistaken for intelligence.
The pope acknowledged the positive contributions of AI, particularly in advancing medical research and scientific progress.
He however stressed that it also presents serious concerns about its influence on humanity’s unique ability to understand and process reality.
The Catholic Church has been actively engaging in ethical discussions about emerging technologies.
Under Pope Francis, the Vatican launched the Rome Call for AI Ethics in 2020, a commitment to principles like transparency and privacy, supported by tech giants such as Microsoft and IBM, as well as the United Nations, Italy, and several universities.
