AI and Magnifica Humanitas: A webinar series about the Papal encyclical
The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics sponsored a four-part webinar series in which ethics center staff members and other Santa Clara University faculty and staff addressed key AI-related portions and themes of the encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIV in May, 2026.
The webinars focused on four distinct topics: AI and education, AI and labor, AI and consciousness, and disarming AI.
Recordings of the four webinars which comprised the series are included below; each is approximately 1 hr. long.
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Video: The Encyclical, AI, and Education
Recorded Thursday, July 16, 2026, Noon to 1 p.m. PDT.
Panelists:
- Director, Internet Ethics, Irina Raicu
- Director, Religious and Catholic Ethics, David DeCosse
- Senior Director, Leadership Ethics, Ann Skeet
Video: The Encyclical, AI, and Labor
Recorded Wednesday, July 22, 2026, Noon to 1 p.m. PDT.
Panelists:
- Director, Internet Ethics, Irina Raicu
- Director, Government Ethics, Davina Hurt
- SCU Vice President for Mission and Ministry, Matthew Carnes, S.J.
Video: The Encyclical, AI, and Consciousness
Recorded Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Noon to 1 p.m. PDT.
Panelists:
- Director Technology Ethics, Brian Green
- Director, Immigration Ethics, Bill O’Neill, S.J., Ph.D.
- Professor of Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences, Erick Ramirez
Video: The Encyclical and Disarming AI
Recorded Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, Noon to 1 p.m. PDT.
Panelists:
- Director, Religious and Catholic Ethics, David DeCosse
- Director, Immigration Ethics, Bill O’Neill, S.J., Ph.D.
- Senior Director, Leadership Ethics, Ann Skeet
More Information About Magnifica Humanitas
During a recent event at Santa Clara University, scholars with backgrounds in ethics, engineering, theology, and religious studies came together to explore some of the issues addressed by the recent encyclical; among them were Ann Skeet and Brian Green, who will also be participating in the upcoming webinars. For a broad introduction to the encyclical, please read a summary of that panel discussion or view a summary reel from the event (via Linkedin).