Why the New Pope Is Taking on AI

The podcast discusses the Catholic Church's increasing focus on artificial intelligence, particularly under the new Pope Leo XIV, who has made AI a central theme of his papacy, following in the footsteps of Pope Francis. It explores the Vatican's historical engagement with technology, its concerns about AI's impact on humanity and social justice, and its efforts to promote ethical guidelines for AI development. The podcast also covers a recent AI conference hosted at the Vatican, where tech executives, lawyers, and professors discussed the ethical dimensions of AI and the need for responsible governance. While there is common ground regarding the need for guardrails, disagreements persist on the specifics of AI regulation and enforcement. The Catholic Church aims to contribute its expertise in humanity and moral authority to shape the conversation around AI, emphasizing the importance of considering both the benefits and risks of the technology.