Last month, controversy erupted in Ireland regarding Grok, the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that is integrated into the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, now owned by Elon Musk. The controversy centres on the “nudification” feature of Grok, which has been used to generate non-consensual, sexually explicit, sometimes violent deepfake images of women and children. It provoked a huge reaction, opened up the debate around many concerns in this area along with an exploration of regulation in this area.
Prior to this one of the most talked about books of 2025 was ‘Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI’ by Karen Hao. This book expressed real concerns about AI’s potentially damaging impact on people and the environment, the vast resources needed for its development.
Only last week, my God-parents, aware of my interest in social media and keen interest in using on-line platforms as a means of evangelisation sent me a copy of “Outrage Machine: How Tech Amplifies Discontent, Disrupts Democracy, and what we can do about it” by Tobias Rose-Stockwell. It has a foreword by Jonathan Haidt, author of “The Anxious Generation”, a book I previously reviewed in this column.
Outrage Machine is a guide to understanding the technology that captures our attention with anger. According to the author social media has tied us into to an unprecedented outrage machine, training us to react rather than reflect, attack rather than debate. This he says leads to distorted public conversations that live at the extremes and deepen political divisions. These tools have now become he asserts opportunistic platforms for authoritarians and a threat to democratic norms everywhere. Just before Christmas we witnessed in Ireland some evidence of that with the rioting that suddenly erupted in Dublin.
Each year the Pope issues a message ahead of World Day of Social Communications. This year it is observed on May 17th. The document, issued in advance on January 24th is entitled “Preserving human voices and faces.” In the message, Pope Leo advocates a cautious, critical stance toward contemporary communication technologies and especially artificial intelligence (AI). The core theme centres his first World Day of Social Communications message on the dignity and uniqueness of human beings, especially as expressed through human faces, voices, critical thought, creativity, and real interpersonal relationships. Instead of technological optimism, the message adopts a cautious and ethical critique of digital technologies and AI.
The message begins by affirming that human communication is not merely functional but personal and relational. Human voices, faces, and stories are presented as irreplaceable expressions of personhood. Pope Leo warns that when communication becomes detached from real people, it risks losing its ethical and spiritual depth.
Rather than framing AI primarily as a technical issue, the Pope describes it as an anthropological challenge — one that affects how humans think, relate, remember, and imagine. He cautions that reliance on AI to generate language, images, and even emotional responses can weaken critical thinking, creativity, and moral responsibility.
The document identifies several dangers in the current digital environment:
- The replacement of human judgment with automated systems
- Manipulation through algorithms that reward speed, outrage, and polarization
- The spread of misinformation, deepfakes, and synthetic identities
- “Overly affectionate” or personalized AI systems that simulate empathy and companionship, potentially distorting human relationships
These trends, the Pope argues, can erode trust, fragment communities, and obscure the difference between reality and simulation.
Pope Leo highlights the concentration of technological power in the hands of a few actors, warning that this can shape culture, memory, and public discourse without adequate accountability. He stresses that technological development must remain subject to ethical oversight and the common good.
Rather than rejecting technology outright, the Pope calls for:
- Education in media, information, and AI literacy
- The cultivation of discernment, especially among young people
- Clear distinctions between human-created and AI-generated content
- A renewed commitment to truth, authorship, and journalistic integrity
Technology, he insists, should assist human communication, not replace it.
The message concludes with an appeal to communicators, educators, families, and faith communities to protect spaces for genuine encounter, listening, and reflection. Pope Leo urges believers to ensure that technological progress remains at the service of humanity, preserving the primacy of human relationships and moral responsibility.
Overall, the document is a pastoral and ethical reflection urging caution, responsibility, and discernment in the use of AI and digital media. It insists that no technology can substitute for real human presence, and that communication must remain grounded in truth, dignity, and authentic relationship.
The words of Pope Leo offer a rich moral reflection on the challenges that AI and digital technology pose to human dignity, communication, and society. It is thoughtful and timely. Some critics argue that its strong cautionary tone needs to be balanced with clearer frameworks for ethical engagement and a more nuanced appreciation of technological benefits. However, it is certain that many of the urgent ethical concerns will need to be addressed sooner rather than later.
✠ Fintan Monahan – Bishop of Killaloe
Clare Champion article, 6th of February, 2026