STAT+: What the pope’s encyclical on AI means for Catholic hospitals, and all of health care

STAT PlusNewsletterAI Prognosis What the pope’s encyclical on AI means for Catholic hospitals, and all of health care You’re reading the web edition of STAT AIP Prognosis Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Brittany TrangJune 3, 2026 Health Tech Reporter Brittany Trang[email protected]Brittany Trang, Ph.D., covers AI in health and medicine: Does it actually work? Who benefits, or might be harmed? She writes the weekly AI Prognosis newsletter. Follow her on Threads, Mastodon, and Bluesky. You can reach Brittany on Signal at btrang.01. You’re reading the web edition of STAT’s AI Prognosis newsletter, our subscriber-exclusive guide to artificial intelligence in health care and medicine. Sign up to get it delivered in your inbox every Wednesday. The sequel to last week’s graduation speeches that garnered boos for AI: Comedian Ronny Chieng addressed Harvard’s graduating class and told them their mission was to “destroy AI,” which prompted a roar of approval.Advertisement He wasn’t referring to uses of AI in medicine and physics, he specified, but rather offloading writing and creating to AI. The journey of making and learning and figuring out is “the point of all of this,” he said. “Why would I want AI to take that away from me?” STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In Artificial intelligence, health tech, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Brittany Trang Health Tech Reporter Brittany Trang, Ph.D., covers AI in health and medicine: Does it actually work? Who benefits, or might be harmed? She writes the weekly AI Prognosis newsletter. Follow her on Threads, Mastodon, and Bluesky. You can reach Brittany on Signal at btrang.01. Newsletter Tech is transforming health care and life sciences. Our original reporting is here to keep you ahead of the curve. Recommended AI Prognosis May 27, 2026 STAT Plus: Where patients and hospitals disagree about AI AI Prognosis May 21, 2026 STAT Plus: Are ‘AI co-scientist’ tools actually useful for scientists? Advertisement AI Prognosis May 13, 2026 STAT Plus: AI medical devices’ dirty FDA secret AI Prognosis May 6, 2026 STAT Plus: When the path to good AI is littered with bad data AI Prognosis April 29, 2026 STAT Plus: Why conversations around health AI may be evolving beyond hype Subscriber Picks