The new pope called AI a pressing issue for humanity

The newly elected Pope Robert Prevost called artificial intelligence one of the most pressing issues facing humanity.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church, in his inaugural address, stated that the church will act as a guide in response to “developments in the field of AI that pose new challenges for the protection of human dignity, justice, and labor.”

According to him, he continues to perform the functions of his predecessor, who “considered the social issue in the context of the first great industrial revolution.”

Prevast took the name Leo XIV — in honor of Pope Leo XIII ( Gioacchino Pecci ), who led the Roman Catholics until 1903 and dealt with social issues during the industrial revolution of the 19th century.

The Vatican has already begun using artificial intelligence to digitize and index its vast Apostolic Archive, which will allow researchers to more effectively access the centuries-old history of the church.

According to officials, the technology will help preserve fragile manuscripts and uncover connections between texts that might otherwise remain buried.

The previous Pope Francis, during the G7 summit, called for a ban on the use of artificial intelligence in warfare and the development of ethical frameworks for the technology.

Recall that in December 2023, the pontiff expressed concern that the global community could fall into a spiral of “technological dictatorship” due to the possible unethical use of AI.