Published on 16 June in the Italian daily newspaper Il Foglio, an article by Fabio Pammolli, President of AI4I, reflects on the meaning of today’s technological transformation through the lens of Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.
Revisiting the concept of res novae that inspired Leo XIII’s historic Rerum Novarum, the article explores the relationship between power, work and freedom in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
From Factories to AI Infrastructure
While the industrial age was shaped by factories, steam engines and visible production systems, today an increasing share of economic activity relies on largely unseen infrastructures: data centres, computing power, digital platforms and AI models. According to Pammolli, these are the new res novae of our time, forming the foundations of knowledge creation, economic competitiveness and technological power.
Keeping the Human Person at the Centre
A central theme of the article is the relationship between technological innovation and the dignity of work. Drawing on the tradition of Catholic social thought, Pammolli argues that the key question remains the role of the human person within major technological transformations. Work continues to be one of the primary dimensions through which individuals develop their capabilities and contribute to society.
Technological Power and Accountability
The article also examines the growing concentration of technological power. Control over data, digital platforms, computing infrastructure and advanced AI systems increasingly shapes access to opportunities and participation in innovation. In this context, Pammolli highlights the importance of transparency, independent scrutiny and accountability throughout the entire AI value chain.
Algorithms, Decisions and Freedom
Another major focus concerns the expanding role of algorithms in decision-making processes. Artificial Intelligence is described as a technology capable of enhancing human capabilities, provided that responsibility remains identifiable and decision-making processes remain understandable and contestable. According to the article, these conditions are essential for preserving both freedom and public trust.
A European Challenge
The article also reflects on the role of institutions. Europe’s historical experience is presented as an example of a long-standing balance between science, technology, markets and limits on power. Pammolli argues that similar principles must now be reinterpreted for the digital age through new governance frameworks, shared rules and open infrastructures that broaden participation in technological development.
AI and a New Cognitive Freedom
In its concluding reflections, the article presents Artificial Intelligence as a potential driver of human, economic and social progress. From the steam engine to the GPU, the material foundations of production have changed, yet the fundamental question remains the same: how can technological progress contribute to human fulfilment? For Pammolli, AI can expand judgement, capability and autonomy, becoming a tool for a new form of cognitive freedom within an open society grounded in responsibility and human dignity.
