George Klima (Interviewer), Victoria, BC

Q: Pope Francis stated in 2021, “The dignity of the person does not come from money, it does not come from the things one knows, it comes from work. Work is an anointing of dignity. Whoever does not work is not worthy.”

Artificial Intelligence in its various forms seems like a threat to employment and to satisfying work. Do you have any comments?

ChatGPT: Pope Francis reminds us that work is essential to human dignity. AI poses a real risk to meaningful employment, especially for the vulnerable. Yet, like all technology, it is not inherently evil—it depends on how we use it. The Church calls us to shape AI with justice, placing the human person at the center. We must ensure AI enhances rather than replaces human labor, offering new forms of work that respect creativity and community. Ethical development, guided by Catholic social teaching, can help AI serve the common good rather than deepen inequality or devalue the worker.

Q: People who are building AI are typically not Catholics. Most politicians are not Catholics. Even those who are Catholics may not practise and may not subscribe to the message from Pope Francis.

ChatGPT: True—but Catholic social teaching isn’t just for Catholics. It offers a moral vision rooted in human dignity, justice, and the common good. These values resonate across cultures and beliefs. The Church’s role is to speak boldly, form consciences, and inspire action, even in secular spaces. Witness still matters.

Q: We typically see that corporate interests, driven by short-term profit-seeking seem to be more powerful than seeking the social good or any particular moral vision.

ChatGPT: Yes, profit often outweighs principle. But the Gospel challenges this: people over profit, dignity over efficiency. The Church must be a prophetic voice—naming injustice, defending the vulnerable, and calling for an economy that serves all. Change is slow, but moral witness can still stir hearts, even in boardrooms.

Q: Aside from Western corporate interests we also see Artificial Intelligence being developed in China. China is a country with its own social and moral code. Where do you see Chinese AI heading?
ChatGPT: Chinese AI is likely to prioritize state control, surveillance, and social stability over individual rights. Rooted in Confucian and Communist values, it may emphasize collective harmony but lack protections for personal dignity. This raises concerns for freedom, privacy, and human-centered ethics—areas where the Church must remain watchful and engaged.

Q: Of what use is being “watchful” and “engaged”? What engagement do you imagine that the Pontiff might have in China?

ChatGPT: “Watchful” means bearing moral witness, naming injustice, and advocating globally. Direct influence in China is limited, but the Pope can still inspire Catholics worldwide, support underground believers, and speak through diplomacy. His voice, though distant, can encourage conscience, solidarity, and international pressure for ethical uses of AI and human rights.

Q: China has a monopoly on many of the minerals needed to build the components that AI relies upon. In that case, the Chinese government’s values and priorities will determine the future relationships between humans and AI.

ChatGPT: Correct. Control of critical minerals gives China global influence over AI development. If their priorities lack safeguards for human dignity, the risk grows of AI shaped by authoritarian values. This calls for international cooperation, ethical leadership, and a renewed Catholic voice urging justice, solidarity, and respect for every person worldwide.

Q: So, what are the possibilities for harmonizing contemporary Chinese values with those of Pope Francis?

ChatGPT: Both value community, social harmony, and care for the poor. Pope Francis emphasizes mercy, dignity, and the common good—principles not foreign to Confucian thought. Dialogue is possible through shared concern for social cohesion and environmental stewardship. But tensions remain over freedom, truth, and the sacredness of the individual conscience.

Q: It seems that there are jobs where AI is not serving the human worker. Instead the human worker is serving the AI. For example, in a factory run by robots, there are humans whose job is to maintain the robots. Or in an office, there are humans who input data for an AI to use for making decisions.

ChatGPT: Yes, this reversal is troubling. When humans serve machines, dignity is at risk. Work becomes mechanical, detached from creativity and purpose. Catholic teaching insists that technology must remain a tool, not a master. AI should assist human flourishing—not reduce workers to cogs in a system they no longer shape.