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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: https://bibleinayearonline.com/september-oyb/?version=63&startmmdd=0101
September 16, 2026
EXCERPT ALETEIA: Interview with a former AI researcher — the pope’s preacher!
Q: Isn't the prospect of AI eventually replacing human communication frightening?Fr. Pasolini:
I believe that artificial intelligence will give us an even better
understanding of what makes us human, that little something that only
we can do — and that we often don't do.
We often spend our days performing a series of tasks that a computer
could just as easily do, and we may only put 1% of our true humanity
into them — that is, our feelings, what we feel deeply.
I believe that if we’re all so tired, it’s because we already live a
little like computers: We do too many things, one after the other,
without ever really being present in what we’re doing. We act because
we have to act. The fact that, soon, most things will be able to be
done by a computer will force us to ask ourselves: Where do we choose
to put our heart and love today?
Artificial intelligence could overwhelm us even more if we aren’t
careful. But if, on the contrary, we show a little spiritual
intelligence, we could give ourselves the freedom to delegate a whole
series of things that a computer can do for us — and give ourselves the
freedom to really put sensitivity, love, and a focus on others into
what we do.
Let me give you an example: today, artificial intelligence can write an
important text, and that's fine. The key thing is that if I have to
read this text in front of people, then I can transform it into a human
act. I can look people in the eye and decide where to place the
emphasis.
So we always remain free: free to remain human or to become like
machines. We must be “concerned” about what’s coming, but not “afraid”;
because fear never leads us in a good direction.
Catholic leaders discussed rising benefits and concerns of technology and how faith and ethics apply when using artificial intelligence.
Bringing together leading technological officers from around the globe, Montse Alvarado, president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, spoke with industry professionals about the growing use of AI in a Sept. 9 special, “Beyond Fear: A Catholic Vision for Artificial Intelligence.”
Pope Leo XIV framed the intensifying debate over AI with the May 25 launch of his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. Tech leaders said AI is rapidly reshaping society and the Church, offering powerful tools for ministry while also requiring firm ethical boundaries, human‑centered leadership, and faith‑guided discernment to ensure the technology strengthens human dignity.
“There’s a good side to that exponential innovation because it helps us get to the most vulnerable people faster,” said Joel Chakra, president of Tim Tebow Foundation and venture capitalist in AI technology companies.
“It can it can really rob us of our true humanity, or it can enhance our lives. And the choice is ours,” said Arthur C. Brooks, American author and academic who wrote the foreword to Magnifica Humanitas.
Brooks said the technology can either
diminish or deepen human dignity, depending on how it is used. He added
that despite real concerns about job loss and disruption, he remains
optimistic because humans are “unbelievably ingenious” and made to
solve problems.
“Iʼm not a pessimist. Iʼm an optimist.
I do realize that thereʼs displacement. I do realize that thereʼs a lot
to be concerned about. But I also know that humans are unbelievably
ingenious that the Lord made us to solve problems,” Brooks said.
NEWSLETTER: Three AI Rivals Just Agreed the Race Needs a Governor
On Saturday, Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei published an essay called "We Must Pace the Frontier."
He asked the leading AI labs to slow the pace at which their models gain new skills.
Elon Musk answered with three words: "Dario is right."
Then Sam Altman went further: OpenAI's chief executive promised the same kind of outside review that Amodei proposed. That changed the story from one safety-minded founder warning his rivals into something much larger. Three men fighting for the same talent, chips, clients, and capital agreed that the race needs a governor.
A governor is not an emergency brake. It stops an engine from running so fast that it tears itself apart.
Four months earlier, Anthropic had signed a huge deal with Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN). The company committed more than $100 billion over ten years for up to five gigawatts of compute. A gigawatt is one billion watts of power.
So Amodei is not asking anyone to shut off the engine. He is asking who should control its speed.
SKEPTICAL ANALYSISLadder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 10- "On slander or calumny"
1. No sensible person, I think, will dispute that slander is born of hatred and remembrance of wrongs. Therefore it comes next in order after its forebears.Prayer request? Send an email to: [email protected]