As Use of Artificial Intelligence Increases in the Workplace, Dignity of Workers Must Be Protected, Says USCCB
By: The Good Newsroom
Archbishop Borys Gudziak echoed Pope Leo XIV’s encouragement for the Church to turn to its social teaching in response to AI
WASHINGTON – As the use of artificial intelligence (AI) increases in the workplace, Archbishop Borys Gudziak, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), offered the following statement:
“Each Labor Day, Americans reflect on the sacred dignity of work and those who perform it. All are seeing the rise of artificial intelligence in our lives – at home and at work. People wonder what impact AI will have on their jobs or those of loved ones. While technological advances offer great promises, as followers of Christ, we believe that technology should enrich the sacredness and dignity of human labor.
“From the beginning, Scripture tells us that God placed humans in the garden to ‘cultivate and care for it’ (Gn 2:15). Ever since, work has been a form of continued participation in God’s creation. AI can be a tool to enhance our work, making it more efficient and creative. To offer one example from healthcare, AI could very well aid in the important development of vaccines, medicines, and even the diagnosis of disease. Yet this should never happen at the expense of human dignity. In patient care, there is a risk that AI could attempt to replace human compassion, or supplant human expertise in medical evaluation. In many industries, a number of workers could lose their jobs, impacting families and communities. Such scenarios will need to be carefully considered in virtually every sector of the economy.”
In that statement, Archbishop Gudziak echoed Pope Leo XIV’s encouragement for the Church to turn to its social teaching in response to AI.
“Pope Leo XIV has underscored this priority. He has encouraged people to approach AI with ‘responsibility and discernment,’ ensuring it serves the common good and benefits all people.”
“My brother bishops and I are particularly mindful those among us who are already vulnerable—immigrant workers, farm laborers, low-wage earners, and young people—who often suffer the greatest effects of economic disruptions. Catholics should insist that the benefits of emerging technology are shared equitably.”
Archbishop Gudziak is chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.
Read the full Labor Day statement here (and in Spanish here).