Progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Sunday backed Pope Lepo XIV’s call to prioritize art made by humans over that made by artificial intelligence (AI).
“Pope Leo is right. Art is not some kind of superfluous luxury that can be eliminated from our lives. It is a crucial part of the human experience,” the Vermont senator wrote on social platform X.
“We cannot let Big Tech oligarchs destroy it,” Sanders added.
The first American-born pontiff said Friday it is “becoming urgent to distinguish human art from what machines produce,” referring to AI-generated art.
“There is an ontological difference, even before an aesthetic one, between art and what a machine can generate through statistical calculation based on millions of images created by others,” Leo wrote on X, adding that algorithms “lack the spark of humanity.”
The pope concluded, “For this reason, the Church wishes to renew an alliance with artists and cultural institutions to safeguard our humanity.”
Sanders has been one of Capitol Hill’s foremost critics of AI companies. The independent senator introduced legislation with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in March that proposed a nationwide moratorium on data center development until the federal government develops safeguards.
Last month, Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) introduced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, which calls for a ban on artificial superintelligence until federal regulators establish safety standards. The bill has 11 co-sponsors in the House.
Leo, is his second year leading the Vatican after succeeding the late Pope Francis last year, has prioritized addressing AI. The pontiff said earlier this week concerns researchers have raised about the technology are legitimate.
“If someone were to ask me, ‘Am I in panic mode?’ No, I’m not,” Leo told reporters on Monday. “I sleep at night. I do think that the concerns raised by many of the experts, specialists in AI should be taken seriously.”
