In his new encyclical on AI, Magnificat Humanitas, Pope Leo seeks to lead a global conversation on the need to ensure that human dignity guides us in this brave new world. Angst about AI in education often focuses on impact in learning and teaching, yet the moral challenges posed by the unethical use of AI threaten not just academic standards but our humanity itself.

Just three years ago, a journalist contacted Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese for comment about the risks of AI. At the time, our Education leaders were confident that a good teacher could tell the difference between AI and a student. I’ll hazard a guess this is no longer the case as students become more adept at making the most of the platforms: “ChatGPT/Gemini/Copilot, write me a short answer to the following question at the level of an Australian Year 8 student”, removing the em dashes and throwing in a few spelling mistakes for authenticity.

Students sometimes also share cautionary tales about teachers using AI in ways that may not reflect best practices. We must always remember the human strength........

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