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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thedialog.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/05123938\/20261005T1054-WASHINGTON-LETTER-10-5-1827762-scaled.jpg\" "\\"TRUMP")
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WASHINGTON \u2014 The same week President Donald Trump sought to push for the rapid development of artificial intelligence, or AI, and data centers, Pope Leo XIV said safety concerns about the technology should be taken seriously.<\/p>\n
After meeting with tech executives at the White House, Trump said they agreed Sept. 29 to establish voluntary safety standards for AI, including allowing independent auditors to assess the technology.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s almost like a constitution, in a way,\u201d Trump said of the agreement. \u201cAnd the biggest people in the world signed that, and I signed it as president. And it really is a form of protection.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nTrump also signed an executive order the same day directing federal agencies to use his preferred name for AI, \u201csuperintelligence.\u201d<\/p>\n
The meeting, and the president\u2019s rebrand of AI, came as polls show voters are concerned about the development of AI, even while economic issues still lead their concerns.<\/p>\n
An Oct. 1 poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found just 31% of U.S. adults approve of Trump\u2019s handling of AI. That same poll found that 65% of adults also said higher-than-usual prices are the result of Trump\u2019s policies.<\/p>\n
Several Republican candidates have broken with Trump\u2019s call for the expansion of data centers, as polls show voters are wary.<\/p>\n
But Trump thus far has been undeterred. He told Time in an interview published Oct. 1, \u201cI\u2019m not going to kill a thing based on phony threats.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pope Leo XIV\u2019s first encyclical, \u201cMagnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,\u201d<\/a> published in May, addressed a number of human dignity concerns posed by AI and called for the technology to be \u201cregulated in such a way\u201d as to respect human dignity concerns.<\/p>\n Asked by a journalist on the return flight to Rome from his four-day visit to France Sept. 28, if he was worried that AI could pose catastrophic risks to humanity, Pope Leo replied, \u201cIf someone were to ask me, am I in panic mode? No, I\u2019m not. I sleep at night.\u201d<\/p>\n But, without naming Trump, Pope Leo<\/a> also said, \u201cI do think that the concerns raised by many of the experts, specialists in AI, should be taken seriously. I don\u2019t think that is fake news, as some have said, to try and cause \u2026 financial or some other kind of benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump has called concerns about AI going rogue a \u201choax,\u201d and has argued overly restricting the technology could leave the U.S. playing catch up with China.<\/p>\n The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recently announced a new task force to engage with tech leaders and lawmakers to discuss their concerns about AI, human dignity and online child safety. More than a dozen U.S. bishops met with members of Congress on Sept. 16 to urge lawmakers to enact safety guardrails, such as the Kids Online Safety Act<\/a> (S. 1748).<\/p>\n The House passed a version of legislation earlier this year, but the Senate\u2019s version includes a \u201cduty of care\u201d provision that was not included in the House bill. The White House has negotiated with senators on their version of the bill, but the Senate has since adjourned until after the November elections, leaving the path forward for the bill unclear.<\/p>\n