AI, the Pope, and the philosophy of general practice

As I’ve gotten older I am finding that I’m more invested in philosophy than politics. The two aren’t separate. If we want to influence the political debate, then rhetoric has to be underpinned by philosophical principles and boundaries. There needs to be a clear articulation of values, appreciation of our own sense of purpose and alignment with individual and collective human dignity and needs. 

On 25 May 2026, the 135th anniversary of the publication of the encyclical Rerum Novarum by his namesake, Pope Leo XIV released Magnifica Humanitas: On safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence. Magnifica Humanitas applies core beliefs and social principles to modern times and AI. It was informed by ten years of dialogue between the Vatican and the tech industry. 

According to Francis X. Rocca, writing in the Atlantic: Pope Leo’s unsettling vision of the AI future, one Anthropic co-founder, Christopher Olah, took part in a panel that presented the encyclical. 

Olah said, “Every frontier AI lab — including Anthropic — operates inside a set of incentives and constraints that can sometimes conflict with doing the right thing. That is why, if we want this technology to go well, it is enormously important that there are people outside those incentives — people who care about things going well, who are paying close attention, who are willing to say hard things and insist on safety, who are willing to be our earnest, thoughtful critics.” 

The Church, Leo argues, is not opposed to science or technology. The Pope does not denounce AI, itself as evil. Nor does he label it, as Tyler Austin Harper calls it, a “sin”. While recognising the huge potential for good with the tools of artificial intelligence, the Pope raises significant and well-argued secular and pragmatic, as well as moral concerns, about the potential for AI to concentrate power and resources in the few; to create injustice and isolate; to discriminate against and dehumanise individuals. 

AI can reduce people to “algorithms” that exclude their humanity and put value on “utility" rather than on their “intrinsic humanity”. Imperfection is what gives us our humanity. We are human because we are fallible. Seeking to alleviate personal pain, distress or disease, is not the same as seeing a human as “something to be perfected or surpassed”[para 116, 117]. AI also has the power to remove us from the responsibility to make moral decisions, for example, with the use of robotic AI weaponry, where there is no moral prejudice on life and death decisions.

Reflecting on AI and general practice

I found myself reading the encyclical through the prism of a life in general practice. We can apply the messages of Magnifica Humanitas and Olah’s caution, to the implementation of AI in general practice; the “incentives and constraints” we operate under, that sometimes conflict with or “compromise our desire to do the right thing”, and the need to be transparent, inclusive and open to input from others who are “willing, thoughtful critics”.

The new RACGP standards will include some discussion regarding AI and the need for consent, information security and accuracy. The standards also will include the paradox of living side by side with AI, indicators relating to environmental sustainability and social responsibility, at a time when AI will demand a huge, ever increasing consumption of energy and resources. Many of the inputs that go to building AI systems come from work that neither respects the human dignity and rights and needs of workers, or the environment. 

We can describe general practice in terms of continuity, empathy, cultural awareness and sensitivity, active listening, lack of discrimination, communication and technical skills. These are all part of general practice, but when I talk with GPs the real, timeless essence of what it means to be a GP is expressed through patient stories and an awareness and understanding of the intrinsic humanity that we seek to recognise, support and nurture. This is its strength. General Practice is a wholistic expression of care. General practice recognises that, “The ability to care for one another is a fundamental dimension of our humanity, one that is learned and mastered through lived experience” [para 114]. Through general practice we build relationships that inspire change. What matters most, we might interpolate to general practice is “not occupying positions of power or defending cultural strongholds, but initiating good processes and enabling them to mature”. General practice does not fear diversity or merely recognise and accept it. It engages with it. 

In general practice, as we learn to accept and appreciate the humanity in our patients and help them better understand themselves, they also help us to better understand ourselves. This relationship is more than professional, utilitarian, technocratic or fiduciary. A patient is more than an AI generated list of diagnostic probabilities or computer generated management plans. If AI turns this GP-patient relationship into one of algorithms or numbers, then the crisis in general practice will not be about bulk billing and rebates. Not only will the humanity that is intrinsic to general practice cease to exist, but general practice itself will cease to exist.

It is said that good writing satisfies, but great writing disturbs. Magnifica Humanitas certainly presents a disturbing vision of a potential AI future, but it also “insists that the technology is a gift that can alleviate suffering and open up new possibilities — as long as its ordered by humane values.” 

Regardless as to whether one is challenged by a faith perspective on life, or whether one believes that good deeds, goodwill and an appreciation of what it is to be human, doesn’t need a higher being, AI will ask hard questions of us all.

Dr Paul Mara is a semi retired rural generalist GP from Gundagai NSW. He is also founder and managing director of Quality Practice Accreditation, an independent company that accredits general practices across Australia under the National General Practice Accreditation Scheme.