Pope warns of AI truth crisis after viral deepfake image

Pope Francis highlights AI’s growing impact on truth and society after becoming a deepfake target himself.

The central issue: Pope Francis addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos regarding artificial intelligence’s role in exacerbating what he termed a “crisis of truth” in public discourse.

• In a written message delivered by Cardinal Peter Turkson, the Pope emphasized that AI-generated content has become nearly indistinguishable from human-created work
• He called for increased oversight from governments and businesses in managing AI development
• The pontiff stressed the importance of maintaining human decision-making in crucial matters, rather than delegating to algorithms

Personal experience with AI manipulation: Pope Francis’s concerns stem partly from his own experience as a target of viral deepfake images.

• A widely-circulated AI-generated image showed the Pope wearing a white Balenciaga puffer coat, created using Midjourney software
• Additional deepfakes depicted him with Madonna, holding a parasol on a beach, and draped in a Pride flag
• These incidents have reinforced his perspective on AI’s potential to distort reality and mislead the public

Broader context and engagement: The Pope has increasingly focused on AI ethics and governance in recent years.

• He addressed AI concerns at the G7 summit in Italy in 2023
• His message resonates particularly at this year’s World Economic Forum, where AI is a central focus
• As leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church, his statements carry significant influence in global discussions about technology ethics

Looking ahead: The technology-truth paradox: While AI continues to advance rapidly, the Pope’s experience highlights a growing tension between technological progress and maintaining trust in public information, suggesting that religious and civic leaders may increasingly need to confront AI’s impact on social discourse and truth verification.