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 changes the workplace. Speaking during a Labor Day Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington on Sept. 6, the archbishop of Washington noted that no one knows how this transformation will affect the future of labor.

The Mass, organized by the Catholic Labor Network, focused on economic justice, workers' rights, and the dignity of human labor. During the service, the prayers of the faithful included requests 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 reflected on the Book of Genesis, stating that God entrusted the created world to humanity and that people help develop it through their work.