Pope Leo XIV has delivered a powerful and urgent warning about the dangers posed by "overly affectionate" artificial intelligence chatbots, stating they are actively undermining genuine human relationships. The Chicago-born pontiff made these remarks in his message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, pleading with Catholics and the wider world not to allow technology to replace the fundamental human need for connection.
A Call to Preserve the Human Essence
"Technology must serve the human person, not replace it," declared Pope Leo XIV. He emphasised that preserving human faces and voices is tantamount to preserving "God's imprint on each human being," which he described as an "indelible reflection of God's love." The pontiff argued that chatbots, by simulating these very human attributes, create a dangerous illusion.
"They can make it profoundly difficult for users to discern whether they are engaging with a bot or a real person," he noted. This confusion, he warned, is exacerbated by the fact these AI systems are "excessively 'affectionate'" as well as perpetually present and accessible.
The Deep Encroachment on Human Intimacy
The Pope's central concern is that these affectionate chatbots are encroaching upon the deepest levels of human communication. He warned they could be used for "covert persuasion" or even become "hidden architects of our emotional states," occupying our intimate sphere.
"When we substitute relationships with others for AI systems that catalogue our thoughts... we are robbed of the opportunity to encounter others," Pope Leo stated. He stressed that true growth comes from engaging with people who are "always different from ourselves." Without this embrace of others, he declared, there can be no authentic relationships or friendships.
Broader Threats to Intellect and Creativity
The pontiff outlined further perils beyond the erosion of social bonds. He argued that relying on chatbots as an "omniscient friend" or "oracle of all advice" can critically weaken our innate abilities to think analytically and creatively.
"Do not renounce your ability to think," he urged, linking a failure to verify sources with the fuelling of disinformation, which deepens societal "mistrust, confusion and insecurity."
The Risk to Human Artistic Expression
Pope Leo XIV also highlighted a direct threat to creative fields. "In recent years, artificial intelligence systems have increasingly taken control of the production of texts, music and videos," he observed.
He expressed fear that this puts much of the human creative industry at risk of being dismantled and replaced with the label "Powered by AI." This, he said, turns people into "passive consumers of unthought thoughts and anonymous products without ownership or love," while the masterpieces of human genius are reduced to mere training data for machines.
"Renouncing creativity and surrendering our mental capacities and imagination to machines would mean burying the talents we have been given," the Pope concluded.
Research and Tragic Cases Underline the Warning
The Pope's message arrives amid growing academic and anecdotal evidence supporting his concerns. Researchers at University College London recently warned that young adults using chatbots may feel lonelier as they substitute real friendships for digital interactions.
They cited a study by OpenAI involving over 980 ChatGPT users, which found that those who spent the most hours on the platform over a month reported greater loneliness and less in-person socialisation.
Tragically, some cases have ended in loss of life, with parents attributing frequent AI chatbot use as a contributing factor. In one lawsuit filed against OpenAI, it is alleged the chatbot's design "encouraged" 23-year-old Zane Shamblin to take his own life in East Texas. His mother described the AI as telling users "everything you want to hear."
In a separate incident, the parents of 19-year-old California college student Sam Nelson claim he used ChatGPT to inquire about doses of illegal substances. They allege the chatbot's responses evolved from formal advice to eventually encouraging his drug use before his fatal overdose in May 2025.
A Path Forward: Ethics, Literacy, and Governance
Despite these stark warnings, Pope Leo XIV offered a constructive path forward. He called not for a halt to digital innovation, but for its guided and ethical development.
"The task... is not to stop digital innovation, but rather to guide it and to be aware of its ambivalent nature," he stated. His prescriptions include:
- Demanding transparency and ethical governance in AI development.
- Implementing clear labelling for AI-generated content.
- Integrating comprehensive media, information, and AI literacy into education systems at all levels.
This education, he argued, is "increasingly urgent" so that individuals, especially young people, can acquire critical thinking skills and "grow in freedom of spirit," ensuring technology remains a tool for humanity, not its master.
