The Pope’s Screed Against Human Intelligence

In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Connor O’Leary discuss Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical about AI. • [0:00] Introduction • [3:29] Valid questions, backwards approach • [14:25] Concerning near-universal acclaim • [23:52] Dependence on religious morality • [30:16] Faith-based moral concepts • [39:52] Appealing to fear and resentment • [49:13] Hostility to human intelligence • [58:29] We need a rational morality Resources: Ayn Rand, “Requiem for Man,” Capitalism the Unknown Ideal [https://www.amazon.com/Capitalism-Ide...] Anthropic vs. Trump: The Moral Responsibility of Tech Companies, Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, March 12, 2026 [   • Anthropic vs. Trump: The Moral Responsibil...  ] Marketing AI Without Empowering Resentment, Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, April 23, 2026 [   • Marketing AI Without Empowering Resentment  ] Ben Bayer, How to Build a Secular Morality, New Ideal, June 10, 2026 (just came out yesterday) [https://new-ideal.aynrand.org/p/c34d7...] This episode was recorded on June 5, 2026. Image Credits: Pope: Carlos Alvarez / Contributor / via Getty Images; Circuit: haydenbird / E+ / via Getty Images Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_... Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app: – App Store https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-r... – Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/de... ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: https://ari.aynrand.org/donate Explore these ideas further! ARI's online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: https://newideal.aynrand.org/ ****** Keep in Touch! Sign up to receive email updates from ARI: https://aynrand.org/signup Follow ARI on Twitter:   / aynrandinst   Follow ARI on Facebook:   / aynrandinstitute   Follow ARI on Instagram:   / aynrandorg   Subscribe to the ARI Live! podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... ****** Join an upcoming virtual or in-person event: https://ari.aynrand.org/events/ Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: https://ari.aynrand.org/