Vatican AI Event: Atheist Anthropic Co-founder to Speak

The Vatican has invited Christopher Olah, a cofounder of Anthropic, to speak at an upcoming AI event. Olah is a self-described "atheist" and has previously criticized religions, including Catholicism, in blog posts and on social media. The event will focus on Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," which addresses protecting human dignity amid the rise of artificial intelligence. Olah, a 33-year-old AI researcher, is part of the team developing the Claude chatbot. His past comments include sharing links critical of Pope Benedict XVI and discussing biblical passages he views as problematic. He also drew parallels between Jesus and the Greek philosopher Socrates in a blog post. Olah's profile on the "Sentientism" website identifies him as an "ethical vegan and an atheist," though Anthropic states he has no affiliation with the movement. This invitation highlights the Vatican's approach to engaging with diverse perspectives on the future of AI.