Pope Leo XIV’s Impact on AI Development

Massive advances in consumer-facing artificial intelligence systems in recent years have prompted the Church to engage deeply with tech companies developing these future technologies. This collaboration has sparked criticism directed at the Church’s outreach to tech firms to guide AI development, alongside critiques from the tech community regarding those who interact with the Church. Taylor Black, Microsoft’s Director of AI and Venture Ecosystems and inaugural Director of the Leonum Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies, argues that distancing religion and theology from technology may hinder developers’ understanding of their customers’ mindsets.

Within his dual roles, Black incorporates his insights and theological studies to guide Microsoft’s investments in AI startups. Speaking to Vatican News in his personal capacity, he emphasized that technology lacks an inherent understanding of anthropology or human nature. Generative and agentic AI systems are fundamentally probabilistic, making predictions based solely on training data and user prompts, which means they co-create experiences with users.

In recognition of the shifting paradigms in technology development, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education issued “Antiqua et nova: Note on the Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence” in January 2025. Subsequently, on May 25, 2026, Pope Leo XIV published the encyclical “Magnifica humanitas,” marking a significant moment in the Church’s engagement with AI.

Black pointed out that Pope Leo’s encyclical underlines the potential influence of AI on users’ development, especially when individuals, particularly children, accept information from AI chatbots without critical analysis. He highlighted the risks of moral ambiguity in AI guidance, similar to trusting a knowledgeable yet morally questionable adult with a child’s education. Such interactions could inadvertently shape users away from their true selves towards idealized versions, suggesting that without intentional creative input from users, particularly young ones, the shaping of personal identity by AI could lead to concerning outcomes. “It’s forming us in a way that we can assent to if we feel like it,” remarked Black, indicating the critical need for adults to monitor and guide these interactions for younger audiences.