Archbishop Sarah Mullally cited Pope Leo’s new encyclical Magnifica Humanitas when introducing a debate in the House of Lords on the human impact of artificial intelligence on Friday, 5 June.

“God created human beings in his own image, with glory and honour,” she remarked.  “Each and every one of us, regardless of who we are or what we do. We carry an inherent dignity and immeasurable value. This is not in spite of our weakness, vulnerabilities and limitations, but in many ways because of and through them. God made us to be relational beings, in need of him and in need of others, not sufficient on our own.”

Archbishop Mullally continued: “I start here because, fundamentally, our vision of what it is to be human, of our glorious humanity, must inform the rest of our debate about technology and AI. Pope Leo’s encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, begins here too.”  In the course of her remarks, she called for AI to be “above all … designed, built, regulated and used to serve our glorious humanity” before noting Pope Leo’s remarks that “humanity, in all its grandeur and woundedness, must never be replaced or surpassed.’”

She also mentioned his address to the US National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis last November: “Be prudent; be wise; be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth. Use it in such a way that if it disappears tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships. Remember, AI can never replace that unique gift that you are to the world.”

The debate was among several recent Anglican-led responses to Magnifica Humanitas which included, locally, a community discussion in All Saints’ Church, Rome, on Saturday (20 June).  The event was organised by Joseph Draycott, who teaches philosophy and is Head of Religion and Spiritual Life at Marymount International School.

In addition, the Anglican Communion News Service is sharing views on Magnifica Humanitas from Archbishop Sarah, Bishops Steven Croft and Andy Doyle, and Sheba Sultan, a member of the Church of Pakistan who is a lecturer and researcher in linguistics at the University of Central Punjab.