AI ‘needs to be disarmed’: Pope Leo’s warning sparks global debate

Source Domain: ktxs.com

ABILENE, Texas — In a sweeping first encyclical, Pope Leo XIV declared that artificial intelligence must be “disarmed,” calling for strict ethical limits to ensure that human judgment is not replaced by machine-driven decision making. He cautioned that the speed of technological change may distance people from personal reflection and weaken the human bonds that ground society.

Pastor Ray Miller responded to Pope Leo’s warning on artificial intelligence (KTXS/Scott Martin).

In Abilene, the message is prompting reflection from Pastor Ray Miller at First Baptist Church on the questions surrounding AI and its impact on society.

“I think the most pressing question of the 21st century is, ‘How are we human?’ So many people are using AI as a friend or a therapist,” Miller said. “That’s scary to me.”

In his first major encyclical, Pope Leo XIV called for artificial intelligence to be “disarmed” (KTXS/Scott Martin).

The discussion is also raising questions about how churches will define appropriate limits for emerging technology. KTXS asked, “As more churches turn to AI, how will First Baptist Church of Abilene determine which applications align with its values?”

Miller detailed the church’s cautious stance on AI.

“If anyone at our church is using AI, it is for supplemental research purposes. Outside of that, we’re not really using AI in a meaningful way. I think there will be a certain group of churches that will become early adopters of AI, and we will learn a lot from them. We will learn about the good and the bad. We will also learn about the useful elements of it,” he said. “In his statement, Pope Leo actually referenced the Tower of Babel. In that story, people were trying to build a tower that could go all the way up to heaven and it ends in disaster. In Nehemiah, people partnered with each other and partnered with God to rebuild Jerusalem. I agree with Pope Leo because I believe that he’s asking us to partner together. He’s asking us to partner with God and each…

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