Pope Leo XIV, the Bishop of Rome, posted on X Friday morning calling for human art to be protected from AI, and spelling out the spiritual difference between art made by humans and output produced by machines.
“In this era of artificial intelligence, it is becoming urgent to distinguish human art from what machines produce,” the pope stated. He pointed out that “there is an ontological difference, even before an aesthetic one, between art and what a machine can generate through statistical calculation based on millions of images created by others.” This perspective highlights a fundamental belief that algorithms, despite their advanced calculations, “lack the spark of humanity.”
In May, Pope Leo XIV elaborated on his views regarding AI in an encyclical letter. This document stressed the importance of human dignity in an increasingly automated world. His recent comments, along with past writings, reflect a consistent commitment to preserving the essence of human creativity as machines gain more influence.
Despite the pope’s clear position, AI companies are pushing back. A recent report from the New York Times revealed that Anthropic has been lobbying the Vatican to reconsider its stance on non-human consciousness. According to the Times, they have apparently found little success.
