Pope Leo XIV criticized artificial intelligence in art during a meeting with artists and curators at the Vatican Apostolic Palace. He stated that there is an ontological difference between human art and content generated by machines through statistical calculations based on existing images. According to the pontiff, algorithms lack the human spark essential for authentic culture.
The event, titled 'The Art of the Possible: Weaving Together,' was organized by the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education. The Pope called for a new alliance between the Church, artists, and cultural institutions to protect human creativity. He warned against censorship and the homogenization of art, contrasting creative exploration with the results provided by search engines.
This speech continues the Vatican's ongoing focus on artificial intelligence. In May, the Church established a special commission to coordinate its policy on AI. While previous statements by the Pope addressed general threats to human dignity, this recent address specifically targeted the impact of technology on cultural production rather than broader algorithmic ethics.
The Vatican's position does not resolve ongoing legal disputes regarding copyright, authorship, or the labeling of synthetic content. However, it introduces a new perspective into the global debate, which typically involves AI developers, artists, judicial systems, and regulatory bodies.
