Ro Khanna Urges AI CEOs to Follow Pope Leo XIV’s Warning: AI Must Not 'Diminishes Humanity' and Should Serve the Common Good

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) is urging AI executives to embrace Pope Leo XIV 's human-centered approach to artificial intelligence after meeting with the pontiff and discussing his Magnifica Humanitas encyclical.

Khanna Cites Pope Leo's AI Ethics Vision

On Saturday, Khanna said on X that he recently met with Leo to discuss "Magnifica Humanitas" and the ethical challenges surrounding artificial intelligence.

"It was an honor to discuss Magnifica Humanitas with Pope Leo last week," Khanna wrote.

A single bad hire can set a startup back years. Here are the 5 hires founders most often misjudge — and why

Still Learning the Market? These 50 Must-Know Terms Can Help You Catch Up Fast

He said the pope has offered "an ethical framework for AI affirming human agency & equality."

Khanna added, "I have since written to AI CEOs, calling on them to live up to these principles."

Leo urged policymakers and technology leaders to keep human welfare at the center of AI development.

"The world does not need an artificial intelligence that diminishes humanity," Leo said

Instead, he called for "human intelligence enlightened by wisdom, political authority guided by conscience and technological innovation directed by charity."

"Only then will artificial intelligence become not a rival to humanity but a servant of the common good," he said.

It was an honor to discuss Magnifica Humanitas with Pope Leo last week. More than any world leader, he has put forth an ethical framework for AI affirming human agency & equality. I have since written to AI CEOs, calling on them to live up to these principles. pic.twitter.com/MkoBYLCE77 — Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) August 22, 2026

It was an honor to discuss Magnifica Humanitas with Pope Leo last week. More than any world leader, he has put forth an ethical framework for AI affirming human agency & equality. I have since written to AI CEOs, calling on them to live up to these principles. pic.twitter.com/MkoBYLCE77

Trending: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your 'Safe' Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time

Earlier, White House Science and Technology Advisor Michael Kratsios said some companies blamed AI for layoffs they likely would have made anyway because the narrative "plays better in the press."

He remained optimistic that AI would create new opportunities despite changing existing jobs.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the world could be "only a couple of years away" from early versions of true superintelligence.

He also argued that AI should be democratized rather than concentrated among a single company or country, emphasizing liberty, democracy and human agency.

Microsoft Corp. CEO Satya Nadella said fully AI-run companies remained "too far-fetched," arguing humans would continue to play a central role in business.

He said people would delegate broad tasks to AI agents while maintaining oversight, emphasizing that "human agency is going to be very much part of it."

Skip the Regrets: The Essential Retirement Tips Experts Wish Everyone Knew Earlier.

Think you're saving enough for your kids? You might be dangerously off — see why

Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market

Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That's why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn't tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100 . This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.

As electricity demand accelerates alongside AI and domestic energy production becomes a growing priority, Frontieras is developing patented technology that converts coal into fuels, chemicals, and low-emission energy products without combustion . Through its Regulation A offering, investors can gain exposure to an emerging energy infrastructure company focused on modernizing American industrial and power resources.

Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.

Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.

As electricity demand rises alongside AI, data centers, and renewable energy, long-duration energy storage is becoming increasingly important. Qnetic is developing a kinetic energy storage system designed to provide long-lasting, chemical-free electricity storage , offering investors exposure to the infrastructure supporting a more resilient and reliable power grid.

For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000 , with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.

As artificial intelligence drives unprecedented demand for computing power, the infrastructure behind it is becoming just as important as the software itself. BluSky AI is developing modular, prefabricated data centers designed to bring AI compute capacity online faster than traditional builds, giving investors exposure to a critical layer of the rapidly expanding AI ecosystem through its Regulation A offering.

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.