By Filings on
Society & Culture
Artificial Intelligence
Pope Leo XIV
Ethics
Technology

“Leo’s answer is clear: A person’s dignity does not depend on what they can ‘achieve or produce.’” - RNS

Also…

  • Has the AI resistance commenced? - World
  • Human Exceptionalism and Artificial Intelligence - Breakpoint

Discussion

Tue, 05/26/26

"He identifies as “particularly insidious” an ideology that “suggests that every person must earn or justify his or her own worth, to the point of attributing greater value to those who are more efficient or effective.”

I agree on dignity, but there is some attribution in Scripture around those who work harder or produce more with what they have. Take for example the parable of the talents. I understand where the Pope is taking this to a degree, but I also think we need to be careful in how far we take it. These transformations have taken place throughout history. AI is another example, each one being transformational, and the next one being even more transformational. Many in society are fearful of the impact to their life and their way of working. While AI should not denote dignity of an individual, how we use AI, or refuse to use AI will contribute the value that we generate.

Tue, 05/26/26

There’s a kind of fine line between responsibility to work to the degree we’re able (including consequences for failure in that responsibility) vs. assigning worth to a person. Rhetorically, it can get messy, but the distinction is pretty important. The “to the degree we’re able” part signals one reason why. In Jesus’ day, if you were blind or lame you could only beg. Today, opportunities are better distributed in most places, but there can still be circumstances beyond our control that make it impossible to earn income.

Similarly, ‘productive’ is a bit of a problem, because God calls some to do work that is, while truly valuable, not very marketable. So they aren’t deemed productive, because their work doesn’t sell well, if it all.

These are not really exceptions to the rule, when it comes to personal worth. They reveal that worth really is not based on productivity or usefulness to society. Work, and being productive (in the broader sense) are about stewardship but not about personal value as human beings, so… as much Leo gets wrong, he’s probably mostly right on that point.

He seems to have a good point or two on the topic of AI as well.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.