Carney speaks to Pope Leo about artificial intelligence as government prepares AI strategy

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke to Pope Leo XIV about the importance of protecting humanity when it comes to artificial intelligence, according to his office.

A readout of the conversation says Carney thanked the Pope for his “leadership in this field.”

“They discussed the imperative that AI must serve humanity, beginning with the protection of the individual,” says a readout provided by the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday.

“Prime Minister Carney expressed Canada’s desire to lead internationally on responsible AI and tools to benefit the global community.”

The readout says the pair also discussed the Vatican’s return of some Indigenous artifacts to Canada from its museums, which has been a longstanding calls from Indigenous leaders and residential school survivors, as well as the need for global peace.

Carney, who is Catholic, spoke to the Pope about artificial intelligence after the pontiff released new guidance when it comes to approaching the technology, directing it at global Catholics and Christians.

“In the era of artificial intelligence, when human dignity is threatened by new forms of dehumanization, ours is the pressing duty to remain profoundly human,” the Pope said in his encyclical letter, the first released since he became pontiff last year .

“We must lovingly safeguard the grandeur of humanity bestowed upon us and revealed in its fullness in Christ, the splendor of which no machine can ever replace.”

The Pope also warned about the consequences of individuals having mass amounts of their data collected.

He says in his letter that the “freedom in the digital age is not merely a matter of interiority but also a public concern.”

“It calls for clear rules, transparency, the possibility of recourse and proportionate limits on the use of intrusive technologies, so that technology will remain at the service of the human person and not become a form of control over consciences.”

The pontiff opened his letter by illustrating how humanity was at a crossroads when it came to the technology.

“Either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together.”

Carney told reporters this week that his government’s long-awaited artificial intelligence strategy is expected to come next week, an effort that has been spearheaded by Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon.

Solomon’s office has only said that the strategy’s release was “imminent,” and did not confirm a specific date.

Canada’s approach to artificial intelligence, particularly chatbots, has fallen under heavy scrutiny since a shooter opened fire on family members and a secondary school in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., located in the province’s interior.

Solomon, who met with representatives from OpenAI after it was revealed that the shooter had their account suspended due to what the company had previously flagged as troubling exchanges, has said the government was looking at all options for next steps.

The minister has touted the importance of ensuring Canada’s approach to artificial intelligence was competitive with jurisdictions like the United States, with the federal government also having its own approach for the technology within the public service in hopes of improving output.

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