Trump Administration Divided Over Pope Leo XIV’s AI Concerns

Pope Leo XIV’s AI Warning Draws Mixed Response From Trump Administration

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum criticized Pope Leo XIV’s warnings about artificial intelligence during an interview on Fox Business following the release of the pope’s 42,300-word encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas,” which called for stronger oversight of rapidly developing AI technologies and their social and economic impact.

Pope’s Encyclical and the Call for Oversight

In the document, Pope Leo XIV warned that unchecked artificial intelligence could displace workers, widen income inequality and transfer critical decisions, including those involving labor markets and military systems, to algorithms operating beyond human control. The encyclical also raised concerns about the growing use of AI in areas involving lethal weapons and automated decision-making systems.

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Divided Voices in the Trump Administration

Responses within the Trump administration differed sharply following the publication of the encyclical. Burgum questioned the pope’s involvement in technology policy discussions, while Vice President JD Vance publicly supported the pope’s position on ethical safeguards in artificial intelligence. Vance, one of the administration’s most prominent Catholic figures and a key link to Silicon Valley, described the pope’s intervention as an important form of moral leadership during a period of rapid technological change.

Political Ramifications Among Catholic Voters

The disagreement comes as President Donald Trump continues prioritizing artificial intelligence development and deregulation as part of his broader economic agenda. Political analysts said conservative Catholic voters remain largely aligned with the administration on issues including religious liberty and abortion. However, continued disagreements with Pope Leo XIV on immigration, warfare and technology policy could affect moderate Catholic voters in competitive districts.

Political scientist Ryan Burge warned that repeated clashes between the administration and the Vatican could gradually weaken support among less ideologically committed voters.

Technological Ambitions Versus Regulatory Caution

The debate intensified after the administration delayed an executive order that would have introduced a voluntary AI safety review process. According to reports, concerns over competition with China and pressure from technology companies contributed to the decision. The discussions also highlighted tensions involving AI firms such as Anthropic, which has previously disagreed with the administration regarding military access to its technology.

The Road Ahead

Artificial intelligence regulation continues emerging as a growing point of debate between governments, technology companies and public institutions. The exchanges between the Vatican and the Trump administration reflect broader disagreements over how rapidly developing AI systems should be governed and regulated.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Passkeys Are The Gold Standard For Account Security. So Why Don’t More Major Apps Offer Them?

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 25, 2026

Passkeys are increasingly being promoted as one of the most effective ways to protect online accounts. By reducing reliance on passwords, they help prevent phishing attacks, simplify sign-ins and strengthen account security. Despite those advantages, however, many major digital platforms have yet to adopt the technology.

A Security Upgrade Still Missing At Scale

That gap is the focus of whynopasskeys.com, a new site created by security researcher Scott Helme to highlight companies that have not yet enabled passkeys for their users. The site tracks major consumer brands that continue to rely on older login methods even as passkeys become the industry standard.

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Among the services still without passkey support are Instagram, Netflix and Spotify, according to the site’s data.

Why Passkeys Matter

Unlike traditional passwords, passkeys are generated on a user’s device and linked both to that device and to a specific website or application. Authentication can be completed through biometrics such as Face ID or Touch ID, a hardware security key or a password manager.

Because users do not need to create or remember passwords, opportunities for credential theft, phishing attacks and password reuse are significantly reduced. In most cases, gaining access to an account would require direct access to the user’s device.

Public Accountability As A Pressure Tactic

In a blog post explaining the project, Helme said the goal is to create pressure by making the absence of passkey support visible. “A list is a surprisingly effective motivator. Nobody wants to be on the list,” he wrote.

That approach has already worked elsewhere in cybersecurity: when businesses are publicly compared against peers on basic protections, they often move faster to close the gap. In this case, the list is intended to push platforms to give users a stronger and simpler login option.

The Companies Moving Faster

Many large technology companies have already adopted passkeys, including Apple, Google and Microsoft, reflecting the technology’s growing role in account security.

Implementation, however, remains uneven. Instagram users can currently access passkeys only when their account is linked to a Facebook account that already has passkey support enabled, highlighting differences in adoption even within the same company.

The Bigger Business Question

Meta has not publicly explained why passkeys are available on some of its platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, but not fully across Instagram.

Debate within the industry is no longer centred on whether passkeys work, but on how quickly companies are willing to deploy them. As phishing, credential theft and account fraud remain persistent cybersecurity challenges, passkeys are increasingly being viewed not as an optional feature but as an emerging security standard.

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