Bernardo Caldas, artificial intelligence specialist, praised the publication of Leo XIV's encyclical 'Magnifica Humanitas', considering that the Pope refuses catastrophism and demands scrutiny of algorithms to protect humanity. In an interview with Agência ECCLESIA, Caldas warned that interaction with AI can lead to a complete delegation of thought and critical thinking, even when that is not the user's intention.
The specialist highlighted the deep technical knowledge demonstrated by the pontiff in his first encyclical, by recognizing that AI is "more cultivated than created". This structural characteristic of platforms prevents them from being strictly programmed, which explains the difficulties faced by engineers in correcting flaws and mitigating misinformation. Caldas rejected a reactive stance towards progress, underlining that the Catholic vision views scientific labor as a form of "collaborating" with creation.
Among the dangers identified, the specialist pointed to the "simulation of empathy" as one of the most severe threats, citing studies where users rated virtual doctors as more attentive than human professionals. He also warned about the "dictatorship of the majority" hidden in the training base of systems, which reproduces statistically dominant views or hidden moral criteria imposed by programmers. The transfer of intimate discernment to the digital environment even affects the religious dimension, with growing reports of faithful who replace spiritual guidance with algorithmic advice.
Caldas foresaw that AI development will create disruption in economic models and job disappearance, but advocated for the valorization of areas such as informal caregivers, who will continue to be needed to care for people. The specialist urged the promotion of technological literacy in parishes, considering that it is not possible to be a conscious Christian without understanding the digital reality in which one operates. The interview was broadcast on Programa ECCLESIA, closing a cycle of five conversations about the first encyclical of Leo XIV.
