Software CEO Tells Catholic University Panel AI Won't Take Jobs but Could Diminish Brains Overview Will Wilson, CEO of software testing company Antithesis, spoke at a panel discussion at the Catholic University of America regarding AI's impact on society from a Christian perspective. His key message was that: AI is unlikely to cause mass unemployment. However, AI may lead to intellectual laziness, as people might substitute human intelligence with AI, potentially "losing their own." Key Points from the Panel AI and Employment Wilson dismissed fears of widespread job losses due to AI as "very silly." He argued that human desires and needs are infinite, continually creating new areas for work. AI "is not actually intelligent," but can impact human cognition negatively if overly relied upon. Concerns About AI and Human Interaction Father Michael Baggot warned about "artificial intimacy" generated by AI, which can distract from genuine human relationships. He advocated for safeguard measures to protect both minds and affections from being captured by AI. Cited Magisterium AI, a Catholic chatbot designed deliberately to avoid anthropomorphism, preventing users from developing intimate relationships with it. Emphasized the Church’s rich heritage in reflecting on the human person and human flourishing, positioning it well to lead ethical AI discussions. Religious Perspective on AI and the Occult The Catholic Church has experience with combating non-human influences on minds and affections, including through exorcists. Recently, 300 exorcists met in Rome for the 15th International Gathering of the International Association of Exorcists. Beatrice Ugolini, criminologist and adviser to the Gris Institute, delivered the conference keynote linking AI to new "magical" and "necromantic" forms via data algorithms. She suggested AI enables new divination techniques and communication with the deceased, aspects concerning from a religious standpoint. Context and Related Stories The article is part of a wider coverage exploring AI, ethics, and societal impact, including Catholic Church views and exorcism conferences. Related stories discuss AI avatars, including disallowed AI pontiffs, AI figures dispensing advice in churches, and AI priests causing controversy. The broader debate reflects growing concern about AI's influence on jobs, cognition, ethics, and spirituality. Summary While AI is not expected to eliminate jobs massively due to continuous human innovation and needs, there is concern among religious and ethical commentators that AI could impair human intellectual capacity and interpersonal connections. The Catholic Church sees AI as a tool raising deep theological and moral questions, evidenced by discussions from church officials and experts on the risks of AI potentially enabling forms of "necromancy" and artificial intimacy, requiring careful ethical guardrails. --- Article Metadata Author: Joe Fay Published: 26 September 2025 Source: The Register (Offbeat section) Comments: 6 --- Further Readings Pope nixes idea of AI pontiff blessing netizens AI Jesus in historic Swiss church Pope Francis' AI disaster warning at G7 AI Catholic 'priest' defrocked over bizarre actions