How the Pope’s Magnifica Humanitas Offers a Template for Individuals to Meet the AI Moment Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas” emphasizes that artificial intelligence is not neutral and presents humanity with a choice between unchecked growth or collaborative rebuilding. The encyclical draws parallels to biblical narratives, advocating for shared responsibility and ethical development. Institutional investors are actively engaging with tech companies to ensure AI is used responsibly, addressing concerns from human rights to environmental impact and creative integrity.

• Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas” states that technology is never neutral and urges people to act with courage and solidarity in the age of AI.
• The encyclical contrasts the biblical Tower of Babel, representing unchecked growth and failure, with the rebuilding of Jerusalem, symbolizing collaborative resilience and shared responsibility.
• AI is viewed not as an autonomous force but as a commercial product, emerging at a time of concentrated power in a few hands.
• Institutional investors are leading governance efforts in AI, filing resolutions demanding transparency, risk assessment, and accountability from companies like Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Palantir, and Uber.
• Shareholders have challenged AI use in areas such as identifying targets for missile strikes, patient well-being in healthcare, the environmental impact of data centers, and the use of AI in creative industries.
• The growing influence of investors is seen as a crucial mechanism for guiding AI development, especially as companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Grok prepare for public markets.
• Investor advocacy, regardless of religious background, echoes the Pope’s call for AI to be guided by clear criteria and effective oversight, particularly concerning public goods and fundamental rights.
• The article questions whether humanity will be remembered for timidity in the face of AI or as having used this moment to rebuild common humanity. Continue reading https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/05/29/1138107/how-the-popes-magnifica-humanitas-offers-a-template-for-individuals-to-meet-the-ai-moment