Trump Officials Split Over Pope Leo XIV's 42,300-Word AI Warning as Midterm Risks Grow
Updated
Updated · CNBC · May 26
Trump Officials Split Over Pope Leo XIV's 42,300-Word AI Warning as Midterm Risks Grow
6 articles · Updated · CNBC · May 26
Doug Burgum dismissed Pope Leo XIV's 42,300-word AI encyclical as outside the pope's role, while JD Vance called it "profound," exposing a public split inside Trump's team.
The clash follows Trump's decision last week to delay a voluntary AI safety review order after tech-industry pressure, with the White House arguing new guardrails could hurt U.S. competition with China.
Leo warned AI could displace workers, widen inequality and remove humans from lethal weapons decisions, adding a new flashpoint to his broader feud with Trump over deportations, Iran and global diplomacy.
Catholic politics raise the stakes: Trump won 55% of Catholic voters in 2024, and analysts say repeated clashes with the first American pope could hurt Republicans in swing-district midterms.
Democrats, labor groups and AI-safety advocates could use Leo's warning to portray the administration as too aligned with Silicon Valley and too dismissive of risks to workers, families and national security.
A Pope warns of AI's dangers while a government pushes for dominance. Who defines humanity's technological future?
Can AI's ethical 'red lines' hold when companies privately pursue lucrative military contracts?
“Magnifica Humanitas”: Pope Leo XIV’s Landmark 42,300-Word Encyclical Calls for Global AI Ethics, Ignites U.S. Political and Tech Industry Response
Overview
Pope Leo XIV’s open letter, 'Magnifica Humanitas,' addresses the fast-changing world of artificial intelligence by urging strong moral and ethical oversight. The letter recognizes AI as a valuable tool but stresses it must serve human-centered values, not just profit or power. It draws a clear line between AI and human intelligence, warning against treating AI as equal to humans since AI only imitates certain functions and lacks real experience or understanding. The Pope’s message calls for global cooperation to ensure AI supports human dignity and the common good, shaping both policy and public debate.