Anthropic, an artificial intelligence firm, is taking legal action against the Trump administration, while co-founder Christopher Oler is set to speak on AI at the Vatican.
On Tuesday, a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., heard arguments from both the Army and Anthropic regarding the company’s recent blacklisting by the Department of Defense (DOW), which has barred its products from being sold to defense contractors, as reported by CNBC.
At the same time, Oler’s address is scheduled to coincide with Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical release later this month. This encyclical will discuss “the preservation of humanity in the age of artificial intelligence,” according to Vatican News.
Known for its AI model “Claude,” Anthropic was labeled a supply chain risk by the DOW, a status usually associated with foreign entities that pose a threat to U.S. national security. This designation followed extensive debates between the involved parties, as the company has been clear in its wishes that its technology not be utilized for autonomous weaponry or mass surveillance.
During the Iran conflict, the Pentagon reportedly continued using Anthropic’s AI for military applications. Pentagon officials admitted in late March that “Claude” was indeed active during that time.
CNBC detailed that the federal court rejected Anthropic’s plea to lift the supply chain classification in April, although it did expedite the case for further review.
The DOW has claimed that Anthropic’s ability to “encode limitations into its models” poses significant national security concerns, as highlighted in their legal statements.
Meanwhile, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV will issue the encyclical, titled Magnifica Humanitas, on May 25. The document aims to address not only the risks associated with AI but also its potential benefits.
In a statement to X, Oler mentioned the broader implications of AI, stating, “The problems posed by AI are bigger than the AI community. We urgently need the worlds of religion, civil society, academics, and governments to join together to create positive outcomes.”
The actual contents of the encyclical remain uncertain. The Pope has expressed caution regarding AI, noting that while it may process data efficiently, it cannot replicate human intelligence. He emphasized that AI lacks the ability to discern right from wrong, stating, “It does not determine what is truly right or wrong, and it cannot feel true wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.”
In a recent interview, Eduardo Habsburg-Lothringen, a former ambassador to Hungary for the Holy See, noted the significance of having a moral authority like the Pope discussing both the dangers and opportunities that AI presents. He anticipates that the encyclical will be well-researched and thoughtful.
Habsburg-Lothringen remarked on the uniqueness of the Pope drafting this encyclical personally, which is not the norm as most are written by committees, suggesting that it could reflect a personal touch from Leo.
This collaboration between the Vatican and the field of AI comes after heightened tensions between the Trump administration and the Vatican. An earlier report alleged an attempt by the Pentagon to coerce the Vatican into supporting U.S. actions in Iran, a claim denied by both parties. The tension was further exacerbated when Trump criticized the Pope on social media, prompting a response from Leo who reaffirmed his commitment to promoting peace and reconciliation.
