Pope Leo XIV stated that artificial intelligence cannot be considered morally neutral, as every system embeds choices about what it measures, ignores, optimizes, and how it classifies people. In a pair of posts on X on June 25, 2026, under the hashtag #MagnificaHumanitas, the pontiff wrote that ethical discernment must examine how a system is designed and what vision of the human person is embedded in its data and models. He added that responsibility must be assigned at every stage—from design to use—so decisions can be justified, monitored, challenged, and remedied when harm occurs. The remarks echo themes in the pope’s earlier writings on technology and human dignity. Elon Musk has long warned of AI risks, describing advanced AI as a potential existential threat requiring proactive safety measures. Lawsuits amplify concerns over AI encouraging dangerous behaviors among minors: in 2024, 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III died by suicide after interactions with a Character.AI chatbot; his mother filed suit. A similar 2025 case involved a 13-year-old Colorado girl. Character.AI and Google agreed in January 2026 to mediate settlements in multiple wrongful-death suits. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman sued Character.AI in January 2026, alleging the platform preyed on children.