Pope Francis argues AI cannot truly understand human concepts, sparking debate among researchers over embodied AI and machine comprehension
CMU's Aran Nayebi says robotics will bridge this gap.
fully agree!
Pope Leo XIV@PontifexArtificial intelligences do not undergo experiences, do not possess a body, do not feel joy or pain, do not mature through relationships, and do not know from within what love, work, friendship or responsibility mean. Nor do they have a moral conscience, since they do not judge good and evil, grasp the ultimate meaning of situations, or bear responsibility for consequences. They may imitate or even simulate, but they do not understand what they produce, for they lack the affective, relational, and spiritual perspective through which human beings grow in wisdom. #MagnificaHumanitas
#361⿻ Andrew Trask@IAMTRASKFor (literally) thousands of years, humans have been making human-shaped objects, proclaiming them to be alive, telling society that sacrifices should be made to them in exchange for prosperity (food, water, sunshine, healing, etc.), and Judiasm has pushed back saying "no it's not alive... you made that thing and you're telling us to worship it...possibly even for your own benefit (i.e. because you become powerful if you're the priesthood around this false god/idol/etc.)". All that is to say, regardless of whether you agree, this position from the Pope is aligned with literally thousands of years of doctrine.
Pope Leo XIV@PontifexArtificial intelligences do not undergo experiences, do not possess a body, do not feel joy or pain, do not mature through relationships, and do not know from within what love, work, friendship or responsibility mean. Nor do they have a moral conscience, since they do not judge good and evil, grasp the ultimate meaning of situations, or bear responsibility for consequences. They may imitate or even simulate, but they do not understand what they produce, for they lack the affective, relational, and spiritual perspective through which human beings grow in wisdom. #MagnificaHumanitas
Also, there's a case to be made that humans creating human-like idols has interlaced with science and technology... aka the priesthood figures out how to do something the people don't know how to do yet (e.g. read the moon/stars, predict flooding, etc.)... and they use that position of scientific and technical authority to inspire the people into believing a human-shaped object is worthy of sacrifice/worship/etc.
⿻ Andrew Trask@iamtraskFor (literally) thousands of years, humans have been making human-shaped objects, proclaiming them to be alive, telling society that sacrifices should be made to them in exchange for prosperity (food, water, sunshine, healing, etc.), and Judiasm has pushed back saying "no it's not alive... you made that thing and you're telling us to worship it...possibly even for your own benefit (i.e. because you become powerful if you're the priesthood around this false god/idol/etc.)". All that is to say, regardless of whether you agree, this position from the Pope is aligned with literally thousands of years of doctrine.
All that is to say, from the the Catholic church's 2000 year perspective, the story of AGI is kindof... humans doing the normal human thing.
⿻ Andrew Trask@iamtraskAlso, there's a case to be made that humans creating human-like idols has interlaced with science and technology... aka the priesthood figures out how to do something the people don't know how to do yet (e.g. read the moon/stars, predict flooding, etc.)... and they use that position of scientific and technical authority to inspire the people into believing a human-shaped object is worthy of sacrifice/worship/etc.
The strongest reply today's scientists can make is "but today it's different". But this argument will struggle to face Judiasm's long-historical view... *so* many priesthoods have "cried wolf" over the last 4000 years... (and even then... they really did predict floods, and rain, heal the sick, etc... so so the "technology" often really did work then too)... that it's going to be pretty hard to make a strong case that it really is different now.
⿻ Andrew Trask@iamtraskAll that is to say, from the the Catholic church's 2000 year perspective, the story of AGI is kindof... humans doing the normal human thing.
Like... Egyptian Pharoahs discovered penecillin and were healing the sick, predicting floods, winning wars, etc...
AGI to advance healthcare, curb climate change, and advance national security... oh and it's *alive*.... there really are many strong parallels. The Pope is being very consistent here.
⿻ Andrew Trask@iamtraskThe strongest reply today's scientists can make is "but today it's different". But this argument will struggle to face Judiasm's long-historical view... *so* many priesthoods have "cried wolf" over the last 4000 years... (and even then... they really did predict floods, and rain, heal the sick, etc... so so the "technology" often really did work then too)... that it's going to be pretty hard to make a strong case that it really is different now.
(i'm avoiding making an argument on whether the Pope is right/wrong. merely saying... he's doing his job)
⿻ Andrew Trask@iamtraskLike... Egyptian Pharoahs discovered penecillin and were healing the sick, predicting floods, winning wars, etc... AGI to advance healthcare, curb climate change, and advance national security... oh and it's *alive*.... there really are many strong parallels. The Pope is being very consistent here.
#361⿻ Andrew Trask@IAMTRASK@TomDavidsonX The Pope is pretty obligated to give this answer though. He's just doing his job. He's the Pope.
⿻ Andrew Trask@iamtraskFor (literally) thousands of years, humans have been making human-shaped objects, proclaiming them to be alive, telling society that sacrifices should be made to them in exchange for prosperity (food, water, sunshine, healing, etc.), and Judiasm has pushed back saying "no it's not alive... you made that thing and you're telling us to worship it...possibly even for your own benefit (i.e. because you become powerful if you're the priesthood around this false god/idol/etc.)". All that is to say, regardless of whether you agree, this position from the Pope is aligned with literally thousands of years of doctrine.
There's also multi-thousand-year momentum wherein humans create an object (often made of stone, wood, etc.), claim it to be alive, claim that worshipping/sacrifices will provide food/water/prosperity/etc. and Judaism pushes back saying "no... it's not alive... you made it with your own hands". This is more or less the shape of Judaism's posture towards pagan worship of idols.
Dean W. Ball@deanwballI’ve said enough about my disagreements with some of the ideas below, or at least with the certainty Pope Leo is expressing about them, but can we also reflect for a moment how wild it is that the Pope is tweeting stuff like this? It feels lifted from a screenplay about takeoff.
@deanwball Reversal of that trend would be far more surprising.
⿻ Andrew Trask@iamtraskThere's also multi-thousand-year momentum wherein humans create an object (often made of stone, wood, etc.), claim it to be alive, claim that worshipping/sacrifices will provide food/water/prosperity/etc. and Judaism pushes back saying "no... it's not alive... you made it with your own hands". This is more or less the shape of Judaism's posture towards pagan worship of idols.
#392Dean W. Ball@DEANWBALLI’ve said enough about my disagreements with some of the ideas below, or at least with the certainty Pope Leo is expressing about them, but can we also reflect for a moment how wild it is that the Pope is tweeting stuff like this? It feels lifted from a screenplay about takeoff.
Pope Leo XIV@PontifexArtificial intelligences do not undergo experiences, do not possess a body, do not feel joy or pain, do not mature through relationships, and do not know from within what love, work, friendship or responsibility mean. Nor do they have a moral conscience, since they do not judge good and evil, grasp the ultimate meaning of situations, or bear responsibility for consequences. They may imitate or even simulate, but they do not understand what they produce, for they lack the affective, relational, and spiritual perspective through which human beings grow in wisdom. #MagnificaHumanitas
#631Suhail@SUHAILNew roadmap for AGI. Maybe we should call it The Pope Test.
Pope Leo XIV@PontifexArtificial intelligences do not undergo experiences, do not possess a body, do not feel joy or pain, do not mature through relationships, and do not know from within what love, work, friendship or responsibility mean. Nor do they have a moral conscience, since they do not judge good and evil, grasp the ultimate meaning of situations, or bear responsibility for consequences. They may imitate or even simulate, but they do not understand what they produce, for they lack the affective, relational, and spiritual perspective through which human beings grow in wisdom. #MagnificaHumanitas
#837Jimmy Apples 🍎/acc@APPLES_JIMMYIn the year 2026, Pope Leo XIV declared Butlerian Jihad
Pope Leo XIV@PontifexArtificial intelligences do not undergo experiences, do not possess a body, do not feel joy or pain, do not mature through relationships, and do not know from within what love, work, friendship or responsibility mean. Nor do they have a moral conscience, since they do not judge good and evil, grasp the ultimate meaning of situations, or bear responsibility for consequences. They may imitate or even simulate, but they do not understand what they produce, for they lack the affective, relational, and spiritual perspective through which human beings grow in wisdom. #MagnificaHumanitas
#1332Prakash@8TEAPImust be wild being some churchgoer clutching rosary beads in Limerick, Abuja or Makati and trying to figure out what he’s talking about.
It’s so distant from everyday human life.
Pope Leo XIV@PontifexArtificial intelligences do not undergo experiences, do not possess a body, do not feel joy or pain, do not mature through relationships, and do not know from within what love, work, friendship or responsibility mean. Nor do they have a moral conscience, since they do not judge good and evil, grasp the ultimate meaning of situations, or bear responsibility for consequences. They may imitate or even simulate, but they do not understand what they produce, for they lack the affective, relational, and spiritual perspective through which human beings grow in wisdom. #MagnificaHumanitas
#1402bilal@BILALTWOVECthere's w wittgensteinian take that this is basically a grammatical point disguised as a metaphysical claim
Pope Leo XIV@PontifexArtificial intelligences do not undergo experiences, do not possess a body, do not feel joy or pain, do not mature through relationships, and do not know from within what love, work, friendship or responsibility mean. Nor do they have a moral conscience, since they do not judge good and evil, grasp the ultimate meaning of situations, or bear responsibility for consequences. They may imitate or even simulate, but they do not understand what they produce, for they lack the affective, relational, and spiritual perspective through which human beings grow in wisdom. #MagnificaHumanitas
#1409Aran Nayebi@ARAN_NAYEBIMy prediction: This statement will be out-of-date by the end of the century, if not within the next 10-20 years as embodied AI/robotics comes into its own.
Pope Leo XIV@PontifexArtificial intelligences do not undergo experiences, do not possess a body, do not feel joy or pain, do not mature through relationships, and do not know from within what love, work, friendship or responsibility mean. Nor do they have a moral conscience, since they do not judge good and evil, grasp the ultimate meaning of situations, or bear responsibility for consequences. They may imitate or even simulate, but they do not understand what they produce, for they lack the affective, relational, and spiritual perspective through which human beings grow in wisdom. #MagnificaHumanitas
#1496Chubby♨️@KIMMONISMUSThis feels like the 2026 version of the old ‘LLMs are just stochastic parrots’ take
Pope Leo XIV@PontifexArtificial intelligences do not undergo experiences, do not possess a body, do not feel joy or pain, do not mature through relationships, and do not know from within what love, work, friendship or responsibility mean. Nor do they have a moral conscience, since they do not judge good and evil, grasp the ultimate meaning of situations, or bear responsibility for consequences. They may imitate or even simulate, but they do not understand what they produce, for they lack the affective, relational, and spiritual perspective through which human beings grow in wisdom. #MagnificaHumanitas