Why did Anthropic’s founder appear next to the pope during a discussion on AI dangers? In his first major written statement as pope, Pope Leo XIV addressed artificial intelligence. He outlined key risks to people: job losses, increased conflict and environmental damage. At the Vatican event marking the release, the pope was joined by Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah. Olah’s attendance raises questions about cooperation between the church and a leading AI firm whose tools may contribute to the issues the pope highlighted. The statement stresses protecting human work from AI threats, yet firms like Anthropic focus on automation, according to Pete Furlong of the Center for Humane Technology. Roles such as coding and data entry face high exposure, per Anthropic’s March analysis. A recent Epoch AI survey showed 20 percent of U.S. full-time workers reporting AI handling parts of their tasks. CEO Dario Amodei has also warned of major white-collar job losses ahead. Critics see risks of superficial engagement that avoids real change. Law professor Paolo Carozza noted possible branding gains for Anthropic without deeper review. He still supports dialogue among all parties. Furlong said the contrast between the pope’s message and company actions could be positive if taken seriously, while urging caution over future pressures. Olah acknowledged that incentives can clash with ethical goals. Some advocates, including Timnit Gebru, argued the church should have worked with affected workers instead. Anthropic offered no comment. Both sides agree on limits for AI in warfare. The pope called for strict ethical rules to prevent lowered thresholds for force and reduced accountability. Amodei earlier blocked U.S. use of models for autonomous weapons, leading to conflict with the administration and an ongoing legal case. Anthropic positions itself as safety-focused compared with rivals.
