Pope Leo says AI risk concerns not ‘fake news’

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-29T05:10:35.461Z • Permanent link

Pope Francis's predecessor, Pope Leo, has sparked controversy by dismissing concerns about the risks of artificial intelligence as "fake news." The Pope's comments were made during a recent address to the Italian Catholic bishops, where he emphasized the importance of addressing the challenges posed by AI. According to sources, Pope Leo's remarks were in response to growing worries among the Catholic Church's leadership about the potential dangers of advanced technologies.

Giovanni Berlinguer, the Pope's spokesperson, confirmed that the Pope had indeed stated that AI risk concerns were not "fake news." Berlinguer attributed the Pope's comments to a desire to emphasize the need for more nuanced and informed discussions about the benefits and risks of AI. Meanwhile, AI researchers and ethicists have been quick to praise the Pope's candor, with some arguing that his words reflect a growing recognition of the need for more critical thinking about the role of AI in society.

Rumors of Pope Leo's comments have been circulating among AI enthusiasts and skeptics alike, with some predicting a major shift in the way the Catholic Church approaches AI. Dr. Susanna Müller, a leading expert on AI ethics, noted that the Pope's comments could signal a significant shift in the Church's stance on the technology. "Pope Leo's words suggest that the Church is taking AI seriously, and is willing to engage with the challenges and risks it poses," she said.

Companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and Google are already investing heavily in AI research and development, with many experts predicting that the technology will play a major role in shaping the future of various industries. However, concerns about the safety and accountability of AI systems have been growing in recent years, with some experts warning that the technology poses significant risks to human well-being and society as a whole.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have been studying the potential risks of AI, including the potential for job displacement and the spread of misinformation. According to Dr. Cynthia Breazeal, a leading expert on AI and robotics, the Pope's comments reflect a growing recognition of the need for more critical thinking about the role of AI in society. "We need to have a more nuanced understanding of the benefits and risks of AI, and to develop more effective strategies for addressing the challenges it poses," she said.

The Pope's comments come as the Catholic Church is grappling with a range of challenges related to technology, including the use of social media and the spread of misinformation. In recent years, the Church has been criticized for its handling of issues such as online harassment and cyberbullying, with some experts arguing that the Church needs to do more to address these challenges.