How can we preserve what makes us profoundly human in the midst of a technological revolution that is transforming the way we live, work, connect, and understand the world?
That was one of the central questions explored during the presentation of Almafobia: Spiritual Intelligence in the Age of AI, by Adriana Sirito, held at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina.
The event offered a reflection on artificial intelligence, spirituality, relationships, education, democracy, the common good, and human dignity, based on a central idea: as we develop increasingly intelligent machines, we need to strengthen deeply human capacities such as inner life, empathy, discernment, the search for meaning, freedom, and openness to the transcendent.
Almafobia does not advocate an anti-technology stance. On the contrary, it proposes accompanying the artificial intelligence revolution with a true human and spiritual revolution, capable of placing the person back at the center.
Participants in the presentation included Juan Archibaldo Lanús, a diplomat, writer, and author of the book’s foreword; Javier García Moritán, executive director of the Group of Foundations and Companies (GDFE); and Federico Wals, a specialist in communications and institutional relations and former press secretary to Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who moderated the event.
The audience also included leading figures from various fields, among them Gabriela Azar, organizing rector of the University of the City of Buenos Aires; Mauro Cernadas, secretary of administration at that institution; Lourdes Puente Olivera, director of the School of Politics and Government at the UCA; Mario Miceli, director of the Political Science and International Relations program; Bettina Romero, president of FUNDARA; Roco Aybar, mayor of Tres de Febrero; Alicia Daher, president of the Nínawa Daher Foundation; Carlos Hoevel, director of the UCA Center for Economic and Cultural Studies; Teresa González Fernández, president and executive director of ALPI; and Cristina Manzano of ACDE, along with leaders from the judicial, business, academic, and civil society sectors.
The event reflected the interest this conversation has sparked: more than 70 people attended in person, and more than 100 followed the event on YouTube.
For the International Academy of Catholic Leaders—of which Adriana Sirito is a member of the International Academic Council—this reflection takes on special significance: in the age of artificial intelligence, leadership cannot be limited to managing information, resources, or technology. It also requires awareness, inner freedom, discernment, compassion, a sense of transcendence, and a commitment to the dignity of every person.
Because in the face of increasingly intelligent machines, one essential question remains open:
How can we, as human beings, become more and more human?
This is a question that runs through Almafobia and also challenges those who seek to exercise leadership in service of the person and the common good.