German bishops join initiative for ‘child-friendly’ artificial intelligence

The German Bishops' Conference joined an initiative called “KI kindgerecht!” (“Child-friendly AI!”) to make artificial intelligence safe and suitable for children. The project includes Germany's largest Protestant body and an association of children's websites.

Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, who chairs the bishops' media commission, stated that the initiative follows Pope Leo XIV's encyclical *Magnifica Humanitas*. Bätzing said the Church must defend human dignity in the age of AI, particularly where children face danger. He noted that responsibility for digital safety should not rest solely on parents and that technology should serve people rather than just economic interests.

The Church in Germany is working with educators, academics, and providers to create a code of conduct for interactive AI. This code is based on five principles: data protection, human review, safety by design, respect for children's rights, and age-appropriate spaces for participation. The bishops stated that providers must be required to follow these child-friendly standards.