Cardinal McElroy warns AI will transform work, says workers must have a voice

Cardinal Robert McElroy questioned whether meaningful work will remain available as artificial intelligence accelerates changes in the workplace. During a Labor Day Mass on September 6 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, the archbishop of Washington noted that the future of human labor remains uncertain due to these technological shifts.

The Mass, organized by the Catholic Labor Network, gathered parishioners, workers, and organized labor representatives to discuss economic justice, workers' rights, and the dignity of labor. During the service, the prayers of the faithful included petitions for union leaders and people working in manufacturing, agriculture, and public service, as well as those facing unsafe conditions, inadequate wages, or unemployment.

In his homily, McElroy referenced the Book of Genesis to describe the world as a gift from God that humans help develop through their work.