Gandalf, Picasso and MLK: Cultural references ground Pope Leo’s AI warning
Pope Leo XIV has released his first encyclical focusing on the importance of human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence. He emphasizes that while AI can surpass human intelligence in certain areas, it lacks essential human traits such as love and compassion. The pope calls for a civilization centered on humanity, warning against the dangers of data exploitation and the normalization of evil.
- ▪Pope Leo XIV's encyclical addresses the safeguarding of human dignity in the age of AI.
- ▪He argues that AI imitates human intelligence but lacks essential human traits.
- ▪The document references cultural icons to illustrate the importance of authentic culture in resisting evil.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Pope Leo XIVGandalf, Picasso and MLK: Cultural references ground Pope Leo’s AI warningThe pontiff’s message is clear — in the battle for righteousness, human beings must remain at the center of civilization, not sidelined by AI.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GooglePope Leo issues new warning on artificial intelligence01:43Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 26, 2026, 12:49 PM EDTBy Claudio LavangaROME — It took a little over a year for Pope Leo XIV to write the 42,000 words of his first encyclical, which deals with the safeguarding of human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Arguably, with the right prompt, it would have taken…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at NBC News — Tech.
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