Pope Leo XIV Expresses Concerns Over AI and Rejects Digital Avatar Proposal

During his inaugural interview as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV voiced significant concerns regarding artificial intelligence (AI), highlighting the challenges in discerning God's presence within the digital landscape. Speaking from his residence at Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo, the pope emphasized the loss of humanity in technology-driven environments and criticized wealthy investors for prioritizing AI development over human values.

He stated, "The danger is that the digital world will follow its own path and we will become pawns, or be brushed aside. I think the Church needs to speak out in this regard."

While affirming that the Church does not oppose technological progress, Pope Leo XIV warned about the alarming speed at which AI is evolving. He acknowledged the benefits AI has brought to medical science and other fields but cautioned against creating a distorted perception of reality, saying, "You end up creating a false world and then you ask yourself: What is the truth?"

The pope also recounted a personal experience involving a fabricated video depicting him falling down stairs. "In these few short three months as pope, someone asked me if I was OK because a video showed an artificial pope—me—falling down a flight of stairs. The video was so convincing that people believed it was real," he revealed.

Highlighting the broader challenge of misinformation, he remarked on the widespread consumption of fake news and conspiracy theories, warning that such phenomena are destructive and often arise from people's willingness to believe falsehoods.

Furthermore, Pope Leo XIV disclosed that he recently declined a request to create an AI-generated avatar of himself, which would allow people to have virtual audiences with a digital version of the pope. "If there's anyone who shouldn't be represented by an avatar, it seems to me, it's the pope," he asserted.

Pope Leo's statements underscore the Church's intent to engage thoughtfully with emerging technologies, advocating for dialogue that respects human dignity amidst rapid digital transformation.