AI’s growing power: who really controls it?

A new letter from the Vatican speaks out about artificial intelligence, but it isn’t just another tech warning. Published on the anniversary of an old social justice document, it argues that AI isn’t neutral because it reflects the goals of the people who build it. That means when powerful companies and governments shape the rules of AI, they decide who benefits and who gets left behind. The letter also questions whether AI belongs in warfare at all. It argues that machines can’t understand the human cost of conflict, and faster decisions don’t make war more moral. The debate isn’t new, but the timing matters. In 2025, the U. S. government started handing over big AI contracts to tech giants like Google and OpenAI for military use. One company pulled out after raising concerns about weapons and surveillance, only to be replaced right away by another. That quick swap shows how hard it is to slow down once AI gets tied to defense.Beyond the battlefield, the letter calls for stronger worker protections and clearer rules on how AI systems are trained. It asks schools to prepare students for a world where machines play a bigger role, without letting technology push people aside. Groups like migrants and factory workers in risky jobs get special mention, reminding readers that technology should lift lives, not leave anyone behind. At its core, the message is simple: tools should serve humans, not the other way around. It’s a call to think about what progress really means.