Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has stirred debate in the United States with his recent remarks on artificial intelligence. During his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square on 27 May 2026, the pontiff warned that AI could make civilization less human and urged governments worldwide to actively slow its development.
Mixed Reactions from US Figures
Americans have expressed divided opinions on the pope's stance. Former New York council member Brad Lander praised the commentary as "bold moral leadership," while Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna told constituents on social media that she concurs with Pope Leo's sentiments. However, US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum pushed back, stating he didn't "know that tech editorializing was part of the role of being Pope." David Sacks, the former White House AI and crypto czar, posted on X that government regulation of AI poses serious dangers.
Concerns Over Government Control
"If we hand governments sweeping power over AI development in the name of safety, how do we prevent it from being used to censor, surveil, and control citizens?" Sacks asked. The pope's encyclical on AI has thus become a flashpoint for broader debates about technology, ethics, and governance.
The Guardian is inviting Americans to share their views on the pope's comments. Responses can be submitted anonymously via an encrypted form, and only the Guardian will have access to the contributions. Personal data will be deleted once it is no longer needed for the feature.
