This Monday, Pope Leo XIV publishes his first encyclical, titled Magnifica humanitas, on the 135th anniversary of Rerum novarum. The document addresses the preservation of humanity in the age of artificial intelligence, warning against the unbridled use of technology and calling for it to be placed at the authentic service of people, with an emphasis on digital literacy and the critical use of media among young people.
The encyclical calls for digital literacy for young people 📱
The text of Magnifica humanitas is not limited to a generic warning. It proposes an ethical framework for the development of AI systems, demanding transparency in algorithms and human control over automated decisions. Digital literacy is presented as a necessary tool for young people to distinguish between information and manipulation. The Pope urges governments and companies to prioritize the common good over economic profit, reminding that technology should amplify, not replace, human critical capacity.
Blessed AI: the algorithm that apologizes for its mistakes 🤖
While the Vatican calls for human control, in Silicon Valley they are already working on the automatic confessional: an app that apologizes every time your GPS sends you to the wrong neighborhood. Developers promise that the next version of the virtual assistant will include an act of contrition each time it suggests a recipe with ingredients you don't have. Of course, digital forgiveness does not reduce years of purgatory, but at least the algorithm promises not to recommend shows you've already seen again.