Rapid technological advancements are fundamentally reshaping industries and societies as the world hurtles forward into the age of artificial intelligence (AI). Earlier this year, a global survey of corporate executives revealed that 41% of those surveyed believe that AI will lead to fewer jobs. While some believe that AI will be a net positive for workers, like a 2023 poll conducted by the World Economic Forum, the potential threat to jobs raises fundamental, perennial questions about the nature of work. The expansion of AI, however, is not just an economic or technological issue; it poses an ethical threat to the dignity of human labor — a challenge that the Catholic Church cannot ignore.
Catholic social teaching has long emphasized the inherent dignity of work. Pope St. John Paul II writes in the encyclical letter Laborem Exercens, “Work is a good thing for man — a good thing for his humanity — because through work man not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfillment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes ‘more a human being.'” Labor is not just a means to an economic end; it is an essential aspect of human identity and purpose. Through work, men and women contribute to the common good, fulfill their God-given potential, and participate in shaping God’s creation. The rise of AI, however, threatens to undermine this dignity by contributing to the economic forces that would reduce human beings to mere cogs in a machine — disposable and replaceable.
Morality in the economic sphere
Are we, as a society, willing to sacrifice the dignity of workers at the altar of technological progress? The Church has always stood as a defender of the marginalized and the vulnerable, advocating for just working conditions and the protection of workers’ rights. In this new era, the Church must continue to raise its voice in defense of those at risk of being left behind by the AI revolution. This includes calling for policies that prioritize the dignity of work, demanding transparency and fairness in how layoffs are handled, and encouraging companies to invest in the retraining and upskilling of their employees rather than simply replacing them with machines.
Only human beings, made in the image and likeness of God, create. Machines simply cannot.
Moreover, the Church must challenge the underlying assumptions of our society that often prioritize profit over people. Is the pursuit of profit and efficiency worth the human cost? Pope Benedict XVI writes in Caritas in Veritate (“Charity in Truth”), “The economic sphere is neither ethically neutral, or inherently inhuman or opposed to society. It is part and parcel of human activity and precisely because it is human, it must be structured and governed in an ethical manner.” AI-related layoffs across a variety of industries are not just a result of technological advancements; they are also a consequence of the principles of a broader economic system that often views workers as expendable resources rather than as individuals with inherent dignity and worth.
Humanity’s unique role
As we navigate this period of technological transformation, we cannot lose sight of the unique human dimension of work. Only human beings, made in the image and likeness of God, create. Machines simply cannot. They cannot, properly speaking, think, make decisions or judge the goodness of a particular decision, although they can simulate these processes. The Church’s teachings remind us that work is more than just a job; it is a calling that allows us to contribute to the common good, grow in virtue and participate in God’s plan for the working out of our salvation. In an age of AI, we must ensure that this dignity is preserved, not just for the sake of workers today but for future generations as well.
The rise of AI presents both opportunities and challenges. We are at the inflection point of a new technological revolution. It is a moment of significant transition that requires careful discernment and a commitment to the principles of Catholic social teaching. In the past, when facing revolutions, the Church has rallied to defend the dignity of work.
