A Trump Official Finally Comments On Pope's AI Encyclical—Says Data Centers Are ‘Positive For Humanity’
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum criticized Pope Leo XIV's recent encyclical on AI, questioning the pope's role in tech commentary. Burgum defended AI data centers as beneficial for humanity, contrasting with the pope's warnings about their environmental impact. The encyclical called for greater regulation of AI to protect human dignity and warned against the technology's potential for conflict and moral shortcomings.
- ▪Doug Burgum questioned the pope's role in tech editorializing regarding AI.
- ▪He defended AI data centers as positive for humanity despite the pope's concerns.
- ▪The pope's encyclical warned about the environmental impact of AI and called for sustainable solutions.
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BreakingBusinessA Trump Official Finally Comments On Pope's AI Encyclical—Says Data Centers Are ‘Positive For Humanity’ByConor Murray,Forbes Staff. Murray is a Forbes news reporter covering entertainment trends.Follow AuthorMay 26, 2026, 10:11am EDTToplineSecretary of the Interior Doug Burgum questioned why Pope Leo XIV is “tech editorializing” after he released a 42,000-word manifesto offering bleak warnings about the risks of AI, marking another fracture between the Trump administration and the Vatican, who have clashed over the Iran war in recent weeks. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum criticized Pope Leo XIV for "tech editorializing" in his encyclical on AI.
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