Pope: "Technology and AI Benefit Humanity but Have Destructive Potential"

"Communicating as if Machines Were Conversation Partners"
"At Risk of Forgetting What Is Truly Human"

Pope Leo XIV warned on the 10th (local time) that while advancements in technology and artificial intelligence (AI) bring benefits to humanity, their misuse can cause significant harm.

According to Spain's EFE News Agency, in a message sent to the "AI and Medicine Forum" hosted by the Pontifical Academy for Life on this day, Leo XIV stated, "There is no doubt that technological progress has brought substantial benefits to humanity, especially in the fields of medicine and healthcare."

Pope Leo XIV. Yonhap News

However, he added, "It is not difficult to recognize the destructive potential of technology, and how even medical research can become a tool for inhumane ideologies. The tools we possess today are far more powerful and can cause much greater harm to individuals and nations."

He continued, "Today, we communicate with machines as if they were conversation partners and are becoming almost extensions of these machines. In this process, we not only fail to see the faces of those around us, but we also risk forgetting how to recognize and value what is truly human."

Leo XIV also emphasized that exploring the ethical use of AI in the field of medicine is "extremely important."

He further stated, "There are often huge economic interests at stake in the fields of medicine and technology, leading to competition for control. Therefore, it is essential to promote broad cooperation among all stakeholders involved in healthcare and policy-making across borders."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.