The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, on 25 May 2026 called for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to be guided by human dignity, inclusion and solidarity, warning that “technological change is moving fast and we need to ensure social adaptation,” according to a press release by FAO. Speaking in Rome at the high-level symposium “AI and the Future of Human Dignity: A Bridge Across the Demographic and Employment Transitions,” he stressed that “the digital divide will be even wider if it is not at the service of rural people.” His remarks framed AI as a potential bridge toward shared prosperity for rural communities worldwide.
The symposium was held at the Palazzo Lateranense in Rome under the patronage of the Pontifical Lateran University and hosted by the Pontifical Academy for Life. It coincided with the publication of Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, focused on the ethical and social implications of AI. QU noted that the encyclical was issued “exactly 135 years after Pope Leo XIII addressed the excesses of the Industrial Revolution in Rerum Novarum,” drawing a parallel with today’s AI revolution. He observed that AI “is reshaping our economies, our social governance, our agrifood systems, and the very essence of our work.”
QU recalled FAO’s early commitment to ethical governance of AI through its participation in the Rome Call for AI Ethics.
“In 2020, FAO was honoured to respond to the invitation by the late Holy Father Pope Francis, who called us to be one of the first signatories to the Rome Call for AI Ethics,” he said.
He emphasized the shared commitment “that technological progress must respect humankind, protect the vulnerable, and safeguard the planet.” The Director-General underscored the importance of ensuring AI availability and access for farmers, fishers, pastoralists and forest-dependent communities. He pointed to rural areas in less developed countries with limited AI infrastructure as a priority.
He outlined FAO’s ongoing efforts through its Digital Agriculture and AI Innovation Roadmap, which promotes AI applications across coffee value chains, farmer advisory services, horticulture and soil management. This aligns with FAO’s Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life – leaving no one behind. QU introduced what he calls “Allied Intelligences,” describing it as “the conscious alignment of Human Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, Ecological Intelligence, and Social Intelligence.” He warned that “the expansion of AI should harmonize social and economic development, be inclusive and facilitate knowledge sharing among farmers and consumers.” Recalling Pope Leo XIV, he said “technology must serve the human person, not diminish him.”
The Director-General stressed that AI “could be to assist and amplify human capability,” but cannot replace human beings. He reiterated that we need AI to be a facilitator “but we cannot eat AI.” He urged measuring progress not only by “how high we can go, but also how widely the benefits can be shared.” He concluded: “Let us walk this bridge together – from fear to fortune, from superiority to solidarity – so that all of humanity can benefit from AI for a better future for all.” His message framed AI as a tool for shared prosperity rather than a substitute for human effort.
