Orthodox Christianity’s spiritual leader is calling for religious values to serve as a counterbalance to rapidly advancing artificial intelligence and automation. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s stance adds a significant voice to growing religious concerns about technology’s impact on human dignity and societal structures, highlighting how faith communities are increasingly engaging with AI ethics through theological frameworks about human uniqueness and spiritual nature.
The big picture: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, has warned against what he termed the “impending robotocracy” while emphasizing the need to preserve humanity’s central place amid technological advancement.
- During an address at Athens University, the 85-year-old patriarch stressed that Orthodox tradition contains “valuable human-centric wisdom” necessary for navigating rapid technological change.
- His comments reflect a growing trend of major religious institutions developing theological frameworks for addressing AI’s societal implications.
What they’re saying: The patriarch emphasized the importance of maintaining human dignity in an era of accelerating technological change.
- “In a world of rapid change, an upheaval of values, and dizzying technological advances — from artificial intelligence to the impending robotocracy — our Church proclaims that ‘there is nothing more sacred than the human being, with whom God Himself shared His nature,'” Bartholomew stated.
- He added that religious tradition “upholds the absolute priority of the person over systems … and the need for an education that cultivates and supports the spiritual nature of humanity.”
Beyond opposition: While expressing concerns, Bartholomew did not reject technological advancement outright but instead advocated for human-centered innovation.
Wider religious context: Major Christian denominations are increasingly developing formal positions on artificial intelligence and automation.
- The Vatican issued guidance in January stating that AI applications “must all be evaluated to ensure they respect human dignity and promote the common good.”
- The Anglican Church joined with tech giants IBM and Microsoft last year in signing the Call for AI Ethics, an initiative backed by the Italian government.
Behind the scenes: The patriarch’s address occurred during a weeklong visit to Greece, where he also met with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis shortly after both attended Pope Francis’s funeral.
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