Pope Leo Paints Bleak AI Future—With 'Tower Of Babel’ Warning—Without Human Control
Pope Leo XIV has issued a stark warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence and technological advancement in his first encyclical. He likened the current trajectory of humanity to the biblical 'Tower of Babel,' suggesting that unchecked technological growth could lead to societal division and moral decay. The Pope also condemned anti-migrant politics and criticized modern capitalism for its impact on the poor and the environment.
- ▪Pope Leo XIV's encyclical, titled 'Magnifica Humanitas,' addresses the implications of artificial intelligence and capitalism.
- ▪He warns that the AI economy could create 'second-class humans' and exacerbate social inequalities.
- ▪The Pope emphasizes the need to avoid the 'Babel syndrome,' which prioritizes profit over human dignity.
4 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 11 hours. All of the coverage we found sits in one bucket: centre. That one-sidedness is itself worth noticing.
- ▪ Pope Leo warns some AI weapons 'practically beyond' human control — The Sydney Morning Herald
- ▪ Pope Leo warns some AI weapons 'practically beyond' human control — The Globe and Mail
- ▪ Pope Leo Compares AI Threat to Biblical 'Tower of Babel' — Hacker News (AI / LLM)
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| Canonical URL | https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/05/25/pope-leo-paints-bleak-ai-future-with-tower-of-babel-warning-without-human-control/ |
| Publication time | Mon, 25 May 2026 10:33:21 -0400 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-25T14:52:37.992Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-25T14:52:37.992Z |
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BreakingBusinessPope Leo Paints Bleak AI Future—With 'Tower Of Babel’ Warning—Without Human ControlBySiladitya Ray,Forbes StaffandMary Whitfill Roeloffs,Forbes Staff.Follow AuthorsMay 25, 2026, 10:33am EDTToplinePope Leo XIV on Monday used his first encyclical to warn that humanity is using artificial intelligence, mass automation and rapid technological advancement to build a modern “Tower of Babel,” sharing an apocalyptic vision of a world defined by greed, immorality and lack of respect for human life.
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