A Warning About the Future of Tech and People

The first letter from Pope Leo XIV talks about how new technology can turn society into a “Tower of Babel. ” He says we have two choices: build a city that puts people on the same level as God, or create a place where humans and God live together. The story of Babel reminds us that when pride drives us to build a grand city, we lose understanding and unity. The Pope warns against chasing profit at the cost of the weak, forcing everyone to be the same and treating people as data points. The letter also warns that technology could soon reduce freedom. With every click, purchase or movement recorded, new power grows. This power can predict and influence how we act without us knowing it. The Pope says freedom is not just about thoughts but also about protecting people from being treated like tools for profit.Another danger is that machines might decide who lives and who dies in war. The Pope says machines can never have real moral judgment because they lack conscience, responsibility and the ability to see others as people. He urges strict rules on using AI in weapons so that human dignity is preserved and the fight stays a last resort. The Pope uses a quote from Tolkien’s Gandalf to remind us that we cannot control everything in the world. Instead, small acts of love and integrity can protect against dehumanization. He calls on everyone to work together for a society that values people over profit. In short, the letter calls for careful thinking about how technology changes our world and urges us to keep human dignity at the center of progress.