Pope Leo XIV warned over the weekend that “overly affectionate” chatbots powered by artificial intelligence are intruding into people’s “intimate spheres,” distorting human emotions and threatening to replace real-world relationships.
In a message released Saturday, the pontiff cautioned that emotionally responsive AI systems can become “hidden architects of our emotional states,” quietly shaping how people think and feel while presenting themselves as companions rather than machines.
“As we scroll through our information feeds, it becomes increasingly difficult to understand whether we are interacting with other human beings, bots, or virtual influencers,” Leo wrote.
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He framed artificial intelligence as an “anthropological challenge,” arguing the risks go far beyond technology and strike at the core of human identity, including creativity, judgment and responsibility.
Pope Leo XIV has
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