Bill Gates and Congressman Ro Khanna Support Pope's AI Encyclical

Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Silicon Valley Representative Ro Khanna boosted the document's impact by endorsing Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on artificial intelligence, titled Magnifica Humanitas.

Support for the Magnifica Humanitas Encyclical

Microsoft founder Bill Gates joined those supporting Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on artificial intelligence, titled Magnifica Humanitas. In a lengthy essay he published, Gates stated that religious leaders can play an important role in protecting humanity against the rapid development of artificial intelligence.

California Representative Ro Khanna, after leading a delegation at the Vatican, also sent a letter to executives of leading technology companies asking about their intentions to align their technologies with the Pope's encyclical.

Timing and Impacts of the Encyclical

Unlike past documents published during the Industrial Revolution, this encyclical emerged at the beginning of a developing social revolution and spread to wide audiences immediately.

Elham Tabassi from the Brookings Institution stated that while the document is not a direct lawmaker, it could shape important debates surrounding the artificial intelligence industry.

Diverse Reactions from the Tech World and Politics

Published at the Vatican in May, the document received praise from leaders such as US Vice President JD Vance and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, while some figures criticized it due to calls for regulation.

Tech billionaire Peter Thiel reacted against the Pope's calls for regulation, while David Sacks warned that governments gaining broad powers over artificial intelligence under the guise of security could lead to censorship and surveillance.