Dystopia Now Pope Leo's Anti-AI Encyclical
Jun 11, 2026
A spirited take on a new papal encyclical about AI, probing its pro-human message and possible AI authorship. They debate Catholic anthropology, human dignity, and whether humans must control AI. The Vatican’s decision to share a stage with an AI company sparks scrutiny of tech ties, politics, and corporate behavior.
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Pope Issues Pro Human AI Encyclical
- Pope Leo XIV issues a pro-human encyclical arguing humans must remain in control of AI.
- Emile Torres sees this as timely amid a growing backlash against data centers and technocratic, pro-extinctionist views.
Church Provides A Stronger Human Definition
- The Catholic Church supplies a robust anthropological theory: humans are ontologically distinct with reason and moral capacity.
- Emile contrasts this with secular remainder humanism that loses unique human traits to AI.
Sentience Versus Reverence For Life
- Sentient‑centric moral views (common in EA/longtermism) treat moral worth as degree of suffering capacity.
- Emile prefers reverence for life (Albert Schweitzer) that recognizes dignity across beings, not just utility.