The debate over artificial intelligence (AI) and its place in modern life is settled. Questions surrounding its existence, value, and utility are moot. In the few years since ChatGPT captured our collective imaginations, AI has made itself a central player in how we interact with modern technology.
Recently, Google DeepMind cofounder and CEO Demis Hassabis made an interesting prediction. He said that their research and products “will help unlock AGI (Artificial General Intelligence),” which is said to be the next step in the evolution of AI. Interestingly, he added that we are nearing the point of the singularity, a period which he described as a “new golden age of scientific discovery and progress.”
At first glance, this statement from Hassabis can be read like an exciting vision of the future—a time where we can get rid of disease, inequality, and ills that plague humanity. But to some, this is the beginning of a dystopian tomorrow.
This concern was further compounded by a statement from Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, painting a picture of the future where intelligence, just like water and electricity, can be metered and accessed only by the paying few.
This, rightly, led many to ask questions about AI.
This quandary and other moral concerns are exactly at the heart of the newly released encyclical of Pope Leo XIV titled “Magnifica Humanitas” which outlines his concerns about emerging technologies like AI. It is a reminder that humanity must take careful steps toward technological development.
The encyclical calls for the “disarmament” of AI, liberating the technology from monopolistic control and opening it to discussion and debate. The Holy Father points to the concentration of digital power among a select few and warns that this may lead to greater inequality, manipulation, and exclusion. So, he calls on the faithful, the developers of these technologies, and governments to center any discussion of AI on human dignity, the common good, and social justice.
This encyclical comes at an important juncture. It is a guidepost as we come to the precipice of even greater scientific breakthrough. “Magnifica Humanitas” dares us to not quickly dismiss AI as evil; it recognizes the value of the technology and challenges us to make it a tool that unlocks a more equal, more just world.
“Magnifica Humanitas” tells us to not just put guardrails or regulations on AI but look at how we can work together to help more people, enable greater development, and improve the quality of life of all through technology.
For us in the field of communication, the Pope also warns that tools such as social media platforms and even AI are used to propagate misinformation and disinformation, thus undermining the very foundation of democracy. He reminds us that “the quality of public communication depends directly on social trust and, in turn, shapes it.”
Far too often, those in power use communication tools and new technologies to distort reality, to make the immoral moral, and to poison the well of public discourse. The Pope warns that the “indifference to the truth leads slowly, but surely, to a descent into totalitarianism.”
This encyclical reminds us that as communicators we need to safeguard transparency in communication and the right to search for and share the truth. We are given the responsibility to ensure that society remains informed. It is imperative that AI and other emerging technologies be used to foster constructive dialogue and build bridges where and when it may be needed.
Reading through the encyclical puts discussions surrounding AI in proper perspective. Though AI may ultimately change many aspects of human life, including how we interact with our world and how we relate to each other as individuals and as societies, in the grand scheme of things, the dignity and importance of human life need to be central to any significant jump in technological development.
As the Pope said in quoting St. Paul VI, we must be reminded that true development concerns “each man and the whole man. ‘Each’ means that no person can be left at the margins of digital transformation. ‘Whole’ means that no one can be reduced to productivity, to cognitive performance, or to mere data,” the Pope continued.
So, as AI and other forms of technology transform our world and our lives, we must be reminded that the common good needs to be a central tenet of how it is used. That concept must be the driving force that guides our path forward. In times when questions may arise, our answer must always go back to what is beneficial to us all, as one creation, as one people. In this new age of AI, we are reminded that any advancement must serve a larger purpose—the betterment of all humanity.
*This op-ed was written by Immanuel Pastolero, Content Director of Grupo Agatep, and was originally published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer last June 26, 2026. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Grupo Agatep.
