The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ilorin, Most Rev. Anselm Pendo Lawani, has cautioned against the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI), warning that technology must never replace human relationships, dignity and critical thinking.

Lawani gave the warning on Sunday during the 2026 World Communications Day celebration held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral on lbrahim Taiwo Road, Ilorin.

The cleric said AI should be deployed as a positive tool for the advancement of humanity rather than a weapon for misinformation, manipulation and social division.

He said technological innovations over the years had been created to improve human life and not to diminish the sacred value of human beings.

“Artificial Intelligence, truly a new and innovative form of communication, comes with its challenges.

“Human dignity must be sustained and protected. We cannot continue to over rely on AI to erase the place of human dignity.

“There is urgent need for digital literacy along with humanistic and cultural education for media professionals,” he said.

The bishop, while reflecting on the message of Pope Leo XIV for this year’s World Communications Day, stressed that human faces and voices remain sacred gifts from God and must be preserved despite the rapid advancement in digital technology.

He quoted the Pope as saying, “We are not a species made up of predefined biochemical algorithms.

Each person, the Pope said, has an irreplaceable and inimitable vocation that unfolds in life and is expressed precisely through communication with others.

Lawani noted that while AI offers opportunities for development, it also poses serious risks to journalism and social interaction, particularly through digital fraud, cyberbullying, fake content and invasion of privacy.

He expressed concern that algorithms used in digital communication often promote superficiality, dependency and polarisation in society.

According to him, the growing influence of AI in journalism has contributed to distortion of information because many people now rely heavily on automated systems rather than direct verification from credible sources.

The cleric urged media practitioners to embrace truth, ethical reporting and critical thinking in the face of growing technological influence.

He also warned against people increasingly depending on AI tools to make personal decisions, answer complex questions and even create artistic works.

“Do not give up your own thinking,” the bishop warned, insisting that only God possesses complete knowledge.

Lawani further maintained that communication must remain deeply human and relational, stressing that real interaction cannot be substituted with synthetic voices or digitally simulated realities.

The cleric said real communication requires the unique, irreplaceable presence of a human voice and face, which are sacred, rather than synthetic replicas.

The bishop called for responsible regulation of digital technologies, cooperation among stakeholders and increased education on critical thinking and source verification.

He urged Nigerians to ensure that technological innovation serves the common good and protects the dignity of every individual.

“The challenge before us is not to stop digital innovation, but to guide it, aware of its ambivalent nature.

“It is up to each of us to raise our voices in defense of human beings, so that these tools may truly become our allies,” he quoted Pope Leo XIV as saying.

Lawani said the Church organised the annual celebration to examine emerging challenges in the communication industry while also promoting the positive use of technology for the benefit of humanity.

The event was attended by several media practitioners from both print and electronic media in the state.