Name of Pope Leo XIV was decided with the help of AI, later said - it is dangerous for humanity
Pope Leo XIV: Pope Leo XIV said that he would follow the guidance of Pope Francis in this matter. He stressed that just as Rerum Novarum talked about the rights of workers during the industrial revolution, now the church will have to deal with the moral challenges of the AI era.
The new Pope Leo XIV (14th) made a surprising announcement during his first official speech that his papal name, Leo XIV, has been decided with assistance from Artificial Intelligence (AI). In his speech, he said that AI has been a great influence on his thought process and choice of his papal name, even though he conceded that AI is certainly helpful, yet it is a challenge for maintaining human dignity, justice and labor.
Two days after becoming Pope, Pope Leo XIV, whose real name is Robert Francis Prevost (Chicago resident), addressed the House of Cardinals, remembering Pope Leo XIII, who led the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903. He explained the reason behind his name, saying, "I chose the name Leo XIV because Pope Leo XIII in his landmark encyclical 'Rerum Novarum' shed light on social questions at the time of the first industrial revolution."
In today's age, Pope Leo XIV linked this to the Second Industrial Revolution and the development of artificial intelligence, saying that "the Church also presents today the treasure of her social teachings, in order to meet the ethical challenges arising from the digital age and AI."
In the past few years, the Catholic Church has raised concerns about the growing influence of AI. A document released by the Vatican in January discussed in detail the limitations of AI, its relation to truth, and its ethical aspects. Pope Francis has previously warned that AI can fabricate partially or completely false stories that people may believe to be true.
Pope Leo XIV said he would follow Pope Francis' guidance on the subject. He stressed that just as Rerum Novarum spoke of workers' rights during the industrial revolution, the Church must now deal with the ethical challenges of the AI age.
Pope Francis himself has experienced the dangers of AI when a fake photo of him wearing a white designer jacket went viral on social media in 2023. At the G7 summit in 2024, he stressed the need for "algor-ethics" (ethical principles for AI).
