Pope Leo warns of a 'paradise of machines' in France speech
Opening the first papal state visit to France in 18 years, Pope Leo XIV said AI risks letting humanity lose itself in a world of machines, and called for education in ethical judgment.
Pope Leo XIV warned on Friday that humanity risks losing itself in a "paradise of machines." He spoke at the Élysée Palace as he opened the first papal state visit to France in 18 years. Fortune and several other outlets covered the speech to President Macron and assembled diplomats.
Leo said avoiding "losing our humanity amid a 'paradise of machines' invading and conditioning our daily lives" requires urgent education in ethical judgment, Fortune reported.
The warning continues a theme Leo has returned to since the start of his papacy. He dedicated his first encyclical, titled "Magnificent Humanity," to artificial intelligence, calling for binding regulation and for AI developers to prioritize the common good over profit, Fortune reported.
Leo struck a less alarmed note on the companies themselves. He said he had found many of them "open to looking for ways of making sure that AI does not displace or ultimately destroy humanity, but rather be a tool for human beings," according to the report. He did not name which companies he meant.