At a time when artificial intelligence (AI) permeates every aspect of our work and personal lives, voices calling for deep reflection are multiplying. The latest, and perhaps the most resonant globally, is that of Pope Leo XIV, who on May 25 published Magnifica Humanitas: on the Custody of the Human Person in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. This encyclical, the first of his pontificate, is not merely a religious document: it is a call to rethink the role of technology in society, with direct implications for businesses, governments, and IT professionals.

AI as a New Industrial Revolution

Leo XIV is not the first pontiff to address technology. From Leo XIII with Rerum Novarum (1891) to Francis with Laudato Si' (2015), the Church has closely followed the impact of industrialization and technical progress. However, this is the first time a specific technology, AI, has taken center stage in an encyclical so systematically. The Pope describes it as a new industrial revolution, comparable to that of the 19th century, but with an even more disruptive scope.

In his analysis, AI is not neutral: it depends on who creates it and for what purposes. Its mission must be to serve the human being, never to dominate them. This warning resonates especially in the business world, where automation and decision algorithms are already redefining processes. As Alberto Pascual, president of ASLAN and executive director of Ingram Micro Spain, notes, “technology has always been an amplifier of what lies in the human heart. If there is a spiritual crisis, a crisis of values, AI will reflect it magnified.”

The Debate on AI Neutrality

One of the most discussed points of the encyclical is the lack of neutrality of AI. Mario Escobar, writer and expert on the figure of the Pope, explains: “AI is created by large corporations. They are not individual intellectuals, but large technology companies that have owners, and the companies themselves have an ideology.” That ideology is reflected in the biases of the models, which can impose a worldview without users being aware.

For IT professionals, this means that implementing AI requires rigorous ethical oversight. It is not enough to deploy a model; its decisions must be audited, algorithmic transparency ensured, and the concentration of power in few hands avoided. As the Pope warns, the risk of a “new Babel” based on uniformity and control is real. “Algorithmic uniformity flattens the differences that have always enriched humanity,” adds Pascual.

Implications for Governance and Regulation

The encyclical advocates for public regulation of AI, with independent oversight and global ethical responsibility. This call aligns with the efforts of the European Union, which has already launched the AI Act. In our article “It Was the AI” Won't Save You When EU Regulators Knock on Your Door, we analyze how companies must prepare to comply with these regulations.

The Pope also warns about the “digital colonialism” exercised by large tech companies with resources superior to many states. For Pascual, “self-regulation has proven insufficient.” He proposes strong international regulations, demanding transparency, accountability, and civil society participation. Companies must anticipate these changes, integrating ethical governance principles from the design of their AI systems.

The Risk of Technofascism and Loss of Autonomy

Leo XIV uses the term “technofascism” to describe the risk that AI is governed by oligarchies imposing an impersonal logic. “AI dissolves into a mass guided by an impersonal logic that not only informs but creates opinion and ideology,” explains Escobar. This is especially dangerous in areas such as justice, credit, or health, where automated decisions can perpetuate inequalities.

For cybersecurity and governance professionals, this is a reminder that AI is not just a technical tool but a vector of power. In our article Snowflake Arms Itself with Natoma: The Governance Fabric AI Agents Need to Not Be a Business Risk, we explore how data platforms are integrating controls to mitigate these risks.

Remaining Profoundly Human

One of the most powerful phrases in the encyclical is the need to “remain profoundly human.” Escobar explains it thus: “AI can imitate the human, but it is not human. It lacks emotion, consciousness, moral discernment. That is why it is relentless: it can execute orders without questioning them.”

In practice, this means that companies must avoid the transhumanist temptation of reducing the employee to an optimizable data point. Pascual recommends “recovering the cardinal virtues – prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance – as a compass to guide technological development.” AI must be at the service of the common good, not the other way around.

A Call to Action for the IT Sector

The encyclical is not an isolated document: it is a catalyst for global debate. Governments, corporations, and organizations are already taking note. For IT professionals, the message is clear: ethics is not a complement but a fundamental requirement. From configuring secure infrastructures to implementing responsible AI models, every decision counts.

In our guide on secure VPNs and firewalls we highlight the importance of protecting the network, but security also involves governance. AI must be transparent, auditable, and aligned with human values. As the Pope says, “technology can both build and divide.” It is up to us to choose the path.

Original source: ComputerWorld. Analysis and adaptation by ForgeNEX.