In his encyclical Magnifica humanitas, Pope Leo XIV addresses in detail the fundamental challenges posed by artificial intelligence. In it, he calls for nothing less than the ‘disarming’ of AI.  On 17 August 2026, 5.30–7.00 pm at ETH Zurich (Audimax), an interdisciplinary panel will critically examine this call and the encyclical’s other statements on AI from theological, ethical, socio-political, economic and technical perspectives.

The panel discussion to mark the first encyclical of Pope Leo XIV, is titeled “Disarming’ Artificial Intelligence? – Perspectives on the development and use of AI”.  The panelists are:

  • Mgr. Bishop Dr Felix Gmür, Solothurn
  • Prof. Dr Nadia Mazouz, ETH Zurich
  • Jenny Ebermann, Wikimedia Switzerland
  • Anton Aschwanden, Google
  • Prof. Dr Abraham Bernstein, University of Zurich
  • Dr Alexandra Kaiser-Duliba, Institute for Social Ethics, University of Lucerne

Moderators are André Golliez, Swiss Data Alliance, and Prof. Dr. Christian M. Rutishauser SJ, Jesuits in Switzerland.

The panel discussion will be held in German. Registration is not required and there is no admission fee.
Following the discussion, refreshments will be offered.

This event is a collaboration between Jesuits in Switzerland, Wikimedia CH and Swiss Data Alliance.

Wikimedia CH’s involvement in this panel discussion is all about promoting and protecting shared knowledge resources. Modern AI systems are largely based on open knowledge platforms such as Wikipedia and Wikidata – digital public infrastructure that is built and maintained by volunteers. As AI makes extensive use of these knowledge commons, its communities are coming under increasing pressure. Therefore, digital knowledge commons must be strengthened as an indispensable public infrastructure. Because trustworthy AI needs collective, open and verifiable human knowledge. In short, technology is based on knowledge – and knowledge is human.

 

Read more 

Künstliche Intelligenz «entwaffnen»? Perspektiven für die Entwicklung und Nutzung künstlicher Intelligenz — Swiss Data Alliance

 

Contact

for enquiries about the event: info@swissdataalliance.ch

for enquiries about Wikimedia CH: press@wikimedia.ch

 

Image: Website Swis Data  Alliance