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The pope’s AI encyclical isn’t really about AI

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Pope Leo XIV published his first encyclical on Monday, dubbed Magnifica Humanitas, on “safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence.” And while AI is the hook, the problems Leo focuses on are older and more pervasive: inequality, war, the erosion of democracy, and the concentration of power in the hands of those who don’t necessarily care whether humanity writ large remains magnificent.

Throughout the 200-page document, which the pope presented alongside Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah, Leo argues that technology built and governed by a small elite cannot, by definition, serve the common good. 

“When such power is concentrated in the hands of a few, it tends to become opaque and evade public oversight, increasing the risk of distorted forms of development that give rise to new dependencies, exclusions, manipulations and inequalities,” he writes. 

“In fact, as with every major technological shift, AI tends to amplify the power of those who already possess economic resources, expertise and access to data,” the encyclical continues, highlighting concerns that elites can use their power to “shape information and consumption patterns, influence democratic processes and steer economic dynamics to their own advantage.”

The encyclical comes a few days after President Donald Trump delayed signing his executive order on AI, which would have given the government oversight over new models before they are released, reportedly on the urging of VC investor and former White House AI czar David Sacks.

Pope Leo called for AI to be guided by “clear criteria and effective oversight” grounded in participation from communities that will be affected by it. More concretely, Leo called for an end to the AI arms race “for ever more powerful algorithms and larger datasets” that companies and countries believe will “secure geopolitical or commercial dominance.”

“To disarm means discrediting the assumption that technical power automatically confers the right to govern,” he wrote.

Again, these dynamics predate AI. Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 Rerum Novarum addressed the same concentration of power during the Industrial Revolution, but we needn’t look back that far. Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter and deployment of the platform to help elect Trump; the hundreds of millions flowing from tech elites into super PACs to block AI regulation — the kind of pattern that clearly inspired Leo XIV’s work.

The pope comes to the same conclusion that many have arrived at: the surreal power and capabilities of today’s AI raise the stakes enormously. 

Notre Dame Law School professor Paolo Carozza, a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and chair of the Meta Oversight Board, told TechCrunch that AI-driven misinformation and deepfakes have “corroded our capacity to recognize what’s true and what’s not true, and that really has consequences for democratic politics.” The tech industry’s practice of “harvesting and manipulating” human data, he added, poses “fundamental challenges to cognitive freedom.”

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Glasgow 2026: Ajishola Kadijat Becomes Fourth Nigerian Boxer Eliminated After Split Decision Loss

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Nigeria’s disappointing boxing campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow continued on Sunday as Ajishola Kadijat became the fourth Nigerian boxer to crash out of the competition.

Competing in the women’s 54kg Round of 16, Kadijat suffered a heartbreaking 2-3 split decision defeat to Helen Jones of Wales, ending her hopes of winning a Commonwealth Games medal.

Read Also: GLASGOW 2026: ‘My husband Is My Backbone’ — Emotional Folashade Dedicates Record-Breaking Commonwealth Gold To Family

The closely contested bout saw both fighters exchange impressive combinations, but the judges narrowly favoured the Welsh boxer, who progressed to the quarter-finals.

Kadijat’s elimination extends Team Nigeria’s struggles in the boxing event after three other Nigerian boxers were knocked out on the opening day of competition.

The latest setback means Nigeria’s medal aspirations in boxing have taken another major hit at the ongoing Games.

Despite the disappointment, Team Nigeria will look to other events for medal success as the Commonwealth Games continue in Glasgow.

Nigeria has already enjoyed success in para powerlifting, where the country claimed multiple medals, but the boxing team is yet to make a breakthrough in the tournament.

The XXIII Commonwealth Games are taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, with athletes from across the Commonwealth competing for honours in various sports.

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Plateau Housing Commissioner Inspects Ongoing Tudun Wada–Kabon Road and Bridge Project, Commends Quality of Work

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The Plateau State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Sylvanus Dongtoe, has carried out an on-site inspection of the ongoing bridge construction at Sabon Gari in Tudun Wada Community as part of the 6.9 kilometre Tudun Wada–Kabon Road Project.

The inspection formed part of the state government’s commitment to ensuring that all infrastructure projects are executed according to approved specifications and delivered within the stipulated timeframe. During the visit, the commissioner assessed the pace and quality of work on the bridge, one of the key components of the road project designed to improve transportation and enhance connectivity for residents of the area.

Arc. Dongtoe was received by engineers and construction workers from Jolex Construction Company, who briefed him on the level of progress recorded, ongoing activities and the next phases of the project. The commissioner commended the construction team for the quality of work already achieved, particularly the standard of the bridge construction, describing it as a reflection of professionalism and adherence to engineering best practices.

He emphasised that the administration of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang remains committed to delivering durable and high-quality infrastructure that will improve the living standards of citizens, stimulate economic growth and provide easier access to communities across the state.

According to the commissioner, the completion of the Tudun Wada–Kabon Road and its accompanying bridge will significantly ease movement of people and goods, reduce travel time, enhance commercial activities and improve access to essential services for residents of Tudun Wada and neighbouring communities.

Arc. Dongtoe also disclosed that the process of compensating individuals whose properties were affected by the project is ongoing. He assured residents that government remains committed to ensuring that all legitimate compensation claims are handled in accordance with due process while the project continues without unnecessary delays.

He urged the contractors to sustain the current pace of work, maintain the high standard already achieved and ensure that the project is completed within schedule for the benefit of the people.

Responding on behalf of the construction company, the engineering team reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a road and bridge network that meets the highest quality standards. They assured the commissioner that every aspect of the project would be executed professionally and in line with the approved specifications, expressing confidence that the completed infrastructure would serve the community for many years.

The Tudun Wada–Kabon 6.9-kilometre Road Project is one of the strategic infrastructure initiatives aimed at improving road connectivity, enhancing mobility and supporting socio-economic development within the affected communities.

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