Pope Leo XIV Warns AI Could Erode Humanity: ‘Paradise Of Machines’ Is Invading Daily Life

Pope Leo XIV warned Friday that societies risk losing their humanity as artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies increasingly shape daily life, calling for greater education in ethical discernment alongside technological progress.

Pope Meets French President

The pontiff delivered the message during a stop that included meetings with French officials, including President Emmanuel Macron.

According to a Business Insider report, Leo framed the challenge as a need to strengthen moral decision-making before AI becomes a default guide for daily life.

“If we are to avoid losing our humanity amid a ‘paradise of machines’ invading and conditioning our daily lives, there is an urgent need for education in ethical discernment and the capacity to acknowledge the moral good,” he said.

Later Friday, Leo delivered a separate address at the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, arguing that AI tools can amplify the spread of false information.

“Indeed, without truth, language becomes subject to the logic of violence and to the arbitrary will of the powerful,” he said.

Pope Links AI to Economic Imbalance

The pope has also linked AI’s rise to geopolitical and economic imbalance, warning in August that it could become a new form of “economic colonialism.”

“The rapid development of artificial intelligence risks creating new forms of technological dependence, with poorer nations increasingly reliant on wealthier ones,” he said.

Leo has additionally raised concerns about how AI could reshape employment, family life and human relationships. His latest comments put the Vatican’s emphasis on human dignity and individual freedom directly into the debate over how quickly AI should be deployed.

Leo Calls AI Development ‘A Divine Act of Creation’

In November 2025, Leo urged AI developers to anchor artificial intelligence development in ethics and spirituality, saying technological innovation can be "a form of participation in the divine act of creation." He said such innovation carries "an ethical and spiritual weight, for every design choice expresses a vision of humanity."

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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