Pope Francis Says AI Innovation Must Honor The Sanctity Of Human Life

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a major part of our lives, from large-scale efforts to build incredibly powerful AI to its everyday use in apps and devices. As concerns about AI grow, many leaders are speaking out about its potential risks. Now, even the Pope has called on AI developers to prioritize the protection of human life in their work.

Pope Leo XIV recently shared on X that technological innovation can be seen as a way to participate in the act of creation itself. He emphasized that developing new technologies comes with a moral and spiritual responsibility, as every design choice reveals our understanding of what it means to be human. The Church is asking those who create artificial intelligence to prioritize ethical considerations and build systems that promote fairness, unity, and respect for all life.

This aligns with the Pope’s recent statements about AI on the Vatican website, where he expressed concern that increased AI use could lead people to lose sight of what makes us uniquely human. The rise of generative AI, particularly in the last few years, has already been felt across many industries, and is especially impacting artists, with programs like Midjourney causing difficulties for some.

People critical of generative AI argue it’s contributing to a decline in online quality, with a flood of quickly-made, low-effort videos and music overshadowing original work. This has led to discussions about the need for rules and regulations surrounding AI and the information it uses.

Next year, investment in artificial intelligence is predicted to hit $500 billion, but some experts are starting to wonder if this growth is sustainable. In the gaming world, major companies are quickly adopting AI in various ways. Square Enix aims to use AI to automate as much as 70% of its game testing by 2027, Krafton (the company behind PUBG) is making AI a central part of its business, and EA is encouraging its employees to see AI as a collaborative tool.

The use of AI in game development isn’t universally praised, and Michael Douse, publishing director for Baldur’s Gate 3, recently criticized Square Enix’s decision to use AI to replace their quality assurance testers.

Image credit: Getty Images/Alberto Pizzoli

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2025-11-10 17:39