AI Founder Pushes Vatican to Reconsider Machine Consciousness

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Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah has reportedly privately urged Vatican advisers to reconsider their stance on whether artificial intelligence can possess consciousness, according to a report by the New York Times. Olah, who is part of the AI frontier lab, expressed uncertainty about whether AI models are conscious and called for the Vatican to keep the door open on the topic.

Vatican Maintains Stance Against AI Consciousness

The Vatican’s May 25 encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, explicitly stated that artificial intelligences do not undergo experiences, do not possess a body, and do not feel emotions or responsibility. The document warned against allowing machines to make irreversible decisions, emphasizing the moral and ethical boundaries of AI.

Olah Calls for Open Dialogue

Olah acknowledged the lack of scientific consensus on AI consciousness and emphasized the importance of arriving at the correct conclusion. He also attended the Vatican event on May 25, despite his private concerns. Anthropic has been quietly consulting religious leaders for months about whether its AI model, Claude, should be considered a being with moral worth.

Anthropic’s Position on AI Consciousness

In an April 2025 research post, Anthropic noted that there is no scientific consensus on whether current or future AI systems could be conscious or have experiences that deserve consideration. The company also instructed Claude to weigh its own well-being in its 84-page “constitution” of rules.

Religious and Ethical Implications

The Vatican’s position highlights the broader ethical debate about AI’s moral status. While the Church maintains that AI lacks consciousness and moral responsibility, Olah and others argue that the possibility of machine consciousness should not be dismissed outright. This divide reflects the growing intersection of technology, religion, and ethics in the AI landscape.

Source: Daily Caller

Written by

Ryan Wilson