Pope Leo XIV Issues Warning: AI Chatbots and Virtual Influencers Could Replace Genuine Relationships

Pope Leo XIV has recently expressed his concerns in a comprehensive essay regarding the proliferation of AI chatbots and virtual influencers. He warns that if not approached carefully, these technologies could potentially supplant genuine human relationships.

AI technology has permeated various aspects of modern life, from integration into social media platforms and workplace applications to advertisements seen in public spaces. Chatbots, in particular, have gained traction, serving roles as specialized search engines or as virtual companions for users to share their thoughts or emotions. Some individuals have developed intense attachments, with cases emerging of people proposing to chatbots or engaging in romantic relationships with virtual entities they created.

This growing reliance on artificial intelligence has prompted Pope Leo XIV to speak out, cautioning that it may negatively impact personal relationships, cognitive abilities, and mental well-being. His message to the Catholic community emphasizes the potential risks associated with this technological evolution.

A photo of a girl holding hands with a robot. — Photo by Andy Kelly on Unsplash

The Pope highlights how an over-dependence on AI chatbots can impair critical thinking and erode interpersonal relationships.

Pope Leo XIV’s Warning About Virtual Influencers

In his public address delivered during the 60th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Leo XIV argues that AI has the potential to “radically alter some of the fundamental pillars of human civilization, ”which often go unacknowledged.

The Pope critiques humanity’s “naive and unquestioning reliance on artificial intelligence as an omniscient ‘friend, ‘” warning of the cascading effects of allowing AI to assume cognitive responsibilities, which could dramatically degrade interpersonal communication skills.

He notes, “All of this can further erode our ability to think analytically and creatively, to understand meaning and distinguish between syntax and semantics.”

Highlighting the phenomenon of ‘virtual influencers, ’ the Pope describes how the lifelike nature of chatbot interactions can mislead users, particularly those who are the most “vulnerable.” He elaborates, “The dialogic, adaptive, mimetic structure of these language models is capable of imitating human feelings and thus simulating a relationship.” He further states that because chatbots present themselves as persistently affectionate and readily available, they might subtly influence our emotional well-being, thereby intruding into our intimate spheres.

We need faces and voices to once again speak the person. We need to safeguard the gift of communication as the deepest truth of the human being, and to orient every technological innovation toward it.https://t.co/PmSAHj4gju

— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) January 24, 2026

Although the Pope does not outright reject artificial intelligence entirely, he advocates for enhanced media literacy and awareness surrounding AI tools to prevent a skewed perception of reality. He further reinforces the necessity of caution against AI-generated deepfakes, urging individuals to safeguard their personal image and be vigilant of the potential violations of privacy and intimacy that such technologies can herald.

“We need faces and voices to speak for people again. We need to cherish the gift of communication as the deepest truth of humanity, to which all technological innovation should also be oriented, ” he concluded.

Pope Leo XIV is recognized as a progressive figure within the Catholic Church, having previously canonized the first millennial saint as ‘God’s Influencer’ due to his effectiveness in disseminating faith online. In a display of modernity, Pope Leo even addressed attendees at a rave celebrating an archbishop’s birthday, where a priest performed as DJ.

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