Disarming AI: Pope Leo XIV's Warning for Humanity | Magnifica Humanitas Roundtable | Part 2

In this second instalment of the 'Magnifica Humanitas' Roundtable, we continue our exploration of Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on Artificial Intelligence, focusing on Chapters 3 and 4: Technology and Dominance and The Safeguarding of Humanity.You can get Pope Leo's new encyclical on AI from CTS nowAs artificial intelligence continues to reshape society, Pope Leo XIV offers one of the most significant Catholic intervention yet on the promises and dangers of AI. Rather than asking whether the Church is simply for or against technology, 'Magnifica Humanitas' asks a deeper question: does technology serve the human person or will it come to dominate humanity?In this discussion, the team examine the Pope's striking call to 'disarm AI' and consider what this means in practice. They explore the concentration of power in the hands of a small number of technology companies and tech bros, the challenges of AI governance and accountability, the rise of autonomous systems and the growing influence of algorithms on human decision-making. They also discuss the dangers of techno-feudalism, the role of international co-operation in regulating AI and the ethical questions raised by artificial intelligence in both civilian and military contexts.The conversation also turns to some of the deepest themes of Catholic Social Teaching. Drawing on the principles of the common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity, the panel reflect on Pope Leo XIV's insistence that efficiency and technological power are not ends in themselves. Human dignity, authentic relationships, meaningful work and the flourishing of communities must remain at the centre of any technological future.They also discuss Pope Leo's critique of transhumanism and the temptation to reduce the human person to intelligence, productivity, or data processing. The encyclical challenges us all to remember that what makes us human is not simply our ability to calculate or optimise, but our capacity for friendship, love, sacrifice, responsibility and communion with others. These are realities that cannot be replicated by artificial intelligence, no matter how sophisticated the technology becomes.