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KQED's Forum

Why Pope Leo Wants to ‘Disarm’ A.I.

KQED's Forum

KQED

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.2726 Ratings

🗓️ 2 June 2026

⏱️ 53 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical letter focuses on safeguarding humanity amid the rise of artificial intelligence. In the letter, which is essentially a policy document from the Vatican, the Pope urges tech companies and policymakers worldwide to place human and moral concerns over profit. Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah spoke at the Pope’s release of his letter in Vatican City, signaling an intention of collaboration and dialogue, but Silicon Valley leaders more broadly seem skeptical of the guidance. Will the pope’s recommendations impact the development and deployment of A.I.? Guests: Cade Metz, technology reporter, The New York Times; author, “Genius Makers: The Mavericks Who Brought A.I. to Google, Facebook, and The World" Kim Daniels, director, the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Support for KQED podcasts comes from San Francisco International Airport. SFO was participating in the fourth annual San Francisco Juneteenth Citywide Parade on Saturday, June 20th.

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Restrictions apply, select plans only.

0:32.5

From KQED.

0:35.9

Welcome to Forum.

0:37.3

I'm Mina Kim. For his first encyclical last week, a document that's considered one of the most important papal texts, Pope Leo XIV, chose to focus on AI. Artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed. The word is strong, I know, but deliberately

0:57.0

chosen because this moment needs words capable of attracting attention, awakening consciences,

1:04.0

and indicating paths forward for humanity. Artificial intelligence already touches many areas of our lives and affects decisions that shape human coexistence.

1:17.4

It is also dramatically changing how war is waged.

1:22.5

From Vatican City, the Pope urged tech companies and policymakers worldwide to place morality and human

1:29.2

dignity over profit. This hour, we look at how that message is being received in Silicon Valley

1:35.0

and break down the Pope's guidance. Listeners, do you think the Pope's recommendations will have

1:40.0

any effect on the development and deployment of AI? Joining me is Cade Metz, a technology reporter for the New York Times. Thanks so much for being with us, Kate. Glad to be here. Also with us is Kim Daniels, director of the initiative on Catholic social thought and public life at Georgetown University. Kim, really glad to have you with us, too. Great to be here. So, Kate, you've covered technology for more

2:01.4

than 30 years. How often do you get to write about the Pope? I have to say, I think this is the first

2:07.6

time, and it was very exciting. I grew up as a Catholic. My mother, knowing that this is my

2:14.6

area of interest for so long, made jokes about me potentially covering this.

2:19.6

And, of course, it had to happen.

2:21.8

What was her joke?

2:23.5

You know, as a teenager, I didn't exactly like, you know, showing up to Catholic Mass every Sunday.

2:30.9

But, you know, as she points out, it's a great education that I got, and I'm glad I can bring it to bear at this moment.

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