Pope's AI Adviser Warns Australia: Letting AI Use Copyrighted Work Could Be a New Form of Colonialism

A Catholic priest who advises the Pope on artificial intelligence has warned Australia about a big risk. Father Paolo Benanti says that if Australia lets AI companies train their systems on copyrighted writing without asking permission, it could be like a new kind of colonialism. He means that foreign companies could take Australian writing, make money from it, and send that money overseas — leaving Australia with nothing.

Father Benanti compared the idea to what happened in history when powerful countries took resources from other places and made profits somewhere else. He said Australian writing and creative work could become just another resource for foreign tech companies to use. The money — and the taxes that come with it — would end up in another country, not Australia.

Australia's government has been quietly discussing changes to its copyright laws. Those changes could allow AI companies to train on copyrighted content unless the owner specifically said no. In June, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the government had 'no plans to weaken copyright protections when it comes to AI.' But critics say even quiet discussions about the idea are worrying.

Father Benanti visited Australia as a guest of the Italian Embassy. He met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and praised Australia for trying to regulate social media and AI. He said other countries should follow Australia's lead, especially with its ban on social media for teenagers. He described Australia as being right at the front edge of dealing with these issues.

He also talked about the importance of making sure no one is above the law. He said overseas tech companies sometimes use protections from their home countries to avoid following the rules in other places. He believes governments around the world need to work together to make tech companies follow the rules wherever they do business.

Father Benanti studied engineering before becoming a Franciscan friar and a professor who studies the ethics of technology. He advised Pope Francis on AI and now advises Pope Leo. In May, Pope Leo published a major letter called Magnifica Humanitas, sharing his teachings about humanity in the age of AI. The letter made global headlines for criticising weapons that work on their own, and systems that could unfairly block people from healthcare or jobs.

Father Benanti said the Pope's letter connected with many people outside the Catholic Church because it asked important questions about how technology changes lives. He believes society — not just tech companies — should help decide how AI is governed. He said keeping those questions open for public debate was what made the letter so powerful.

He also raised concerns about how children use AI and smartphones. He compared giving children smartphones to giving a child a powerful motorbike — the same device adults use, but not designed for a child's age or abilities. 'Probably we need a brain helmet,' he said, meaning children need special protections online.

Father Benanti said big tech companies invite religious and political leaders to meetings at their own offices to stop those leaders from speaking out against them. At these meetings, tech leaders tried to convince him that their work was bringing humanity to an amazing moment, and that AI might even become conscious. When asked if he found that convincing, his answer was simple and direct: 'Not at all.'