Humanitas Code: Brazil's AI Protocol Cites Pope Leo XIV

A Brazilian university and creative company have launched a free AI protocol called the Humanitas Code. This code is designed to promote critical thinking when using AI models like ChatGPT or Gemini. Here's the thing: Users paste this 12-article protocol at the start of an AI conversation. It then prompts the AI to cite sources, offer different viewpoints, and ensure the user retains final decision-making power. The Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, or PUCPR, developed this in response to an encyclical from Pope Leo XIV. That encyclical, published in May 2026, urged educational institutions to protect human thought from advanced machines. What's interesting is that the university tested this code across various scenarios, including A/B tests, to confirm its effectiveness. The campaign promoting it includes TV, radio, cinema, and digital ads. A Brazilian technology lawyer is also advising the project. The bottom line: This initiative aims to help users maintain intellectual control and critical engagement in an age of increasingly powerful AI tools.