Pope Leo has been a very vocal figure this year when it comes to technology and especially the usage of AI. Recently, he spoke to students in Indianapolis regarding the harmfulness of AI and how students should focus on their own capabilities vs a machine’s brain and power.
AI has definitely made a splash in 2025, more than ever. My last article about AI was regarding the famous AI burst that made headlines as big names like Sam Altman (AI chief) described that we are reaching a bubble phenomenon, but so far, no bubble has burst, which is expected.
The recent AI release was from Google and it’s Gemini 3, which surprised many with how powerful Google’s DeepMind team has nailed it this time. People have used Gemini 3 to create mock-ups of different operating systems (with a single prompt or two) and then create video games, video editors (which are all functioning by the way), and you name it. Nano Banana Pro, which is their version of image processing, has shot everything else out of the park, with ultra-realistic images.
OpenAI had a successful start with their image processing software, but the hype for GPT 5 didn’t fulfil expectations, being the next big thing in terms of generative AI, with a similar impact GPT 3 had. It was clear that these developments require more time and data centres to reach such heights.
The 5.1 Model is great, and it is working as promised. They also introduced a GPT Atlas, which is their attempt to make an AI browser that does everything for you. It’s only available on MacOS at the moment. And they also introduced Sora, their video-generating platform.
Stepping aside from AI, Apple has had a very happening year as well, with a new OS design language, which is termed liquid glass, mimicking real glass. Long story short, it has been buggy, and there have been mixed reviews on the new design; people either love it or hate it.
In terms of AI, no news, and the delay keeps going, but knowing Apple, there is something they are hiding (or I hope so) and waiting for the right time to announce it.
On the hardware side, the Pros had a redesign and new punchy colours. The highlight of the launch was the introduction of the thinnest smartphone in the world, the iPhone Air. When I first saw this, I had no clue who the target audience was, especially after hearing the price, which is €1,250. The feature list is quite weak as well, just one camera, a smaller battery to match the thinness, and a single speaker.
AI has truly shown its strength last year, and many influential tech personnel have shared their concerns regarding this rapid growth. I have mentioned this in numerous articles that AI is not something we should take lightly. Yes, it does help many people do many small tasks, at work or even at school, but are these applications making us smarter than we should be?
God created us Humans with IQ and EQ, and these are times when both these important aspects of human life are crucial for existence. There is the question of jobs, creativity, and critical thinking, which is the essence of innovation.
There is no doubt that AI will be the buzzword of 2026, and the growth could eventually bring it to a stall. What will make a difference is how we, as humans, will make use of the technology in a very ethical way.
AI tools are going to make life easier, easier in ways that only science fiction novels have written. I am happy to see the Church talking more about the use of AI and how people can balance the use of AI without any harmful effects. I would like to urge more members of the Church to talk about the safe use of technology, even though it’s a topic that everyone has heard about.