US VP Vance praises Pope's encyclical on AI risks

U.S. Vice President JD Vance lauded Pope Leo XIV's recent encyclical on the dangers of artificial intelligence, describing it as "profound" and a vital display of moral leadership. Vance, who previously worked as a venture capitalist, highlighted the Pope's warnings that AI could usher in "new forms of slavery."

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What I've read strikes me as very profound, and the kind of action one would expect and wish for from a leader of the Church.

The encyclical, titled "Magnifica Humanitas," was released by the first American Pope, who has previously clashed with the White House over the war in Iran. The document outlines potential threats posed by technology to humanity.

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What happens with morality is that the principles never change, but the way they are applied does, because the world changes, right?

Vance, a recent convert to Catholicism, expressed satisfaction that Pope Leo XIV chose his papal name as a nod to Pope Leo XIII. He noted that Leo XIII addressed similar concerns regarding the impact of industrial advancements during his papacy.

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I think it was clearly a nod to Leo XIII who, of course, became pope at the beginning of the industrial era and wrote a similar warning at the time about the impact of the great technological advances of the day.

"The principles of morality never change, but the way they are applied does, because the world changes, right?" Vance told NBC News, emphasizing the Church's unique position to offer moral reflection on these complex issues. He suggested that navigating the age of AI successfully would depend significantly on the moral guidance provided by the Pope and the Church.

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Leo XIV becomes pope at the beginning of the AI age, and I suspect that, if we manage to get through this successfully, it will be in large part because the Pope and the Church are able to provide the kind of moral leadership that we need.