Washington, August 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna has called on the heads of eight major technology companies to explain how they plan to protect jobs, human dignity and equality as artificial intelligence reshapes economies and workplaces.
Khanna made the call after meeting Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican during a bipartisan congressional delegation’s European visit last week. He subsequently wrote to the CEOs of Amazon, Anthropic, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and OpenAI, asking how their companies intend to align AI development with principles outlined in the Pope’s first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas.
“I was honored to meet with Pope Leo, who has offered, more clearly than any other global leader, an ethical framework for AI grounded in two fundamental principles: human dignity and equality,” Khanna said.
He urged technology leaders to address the potential impact of AI-driven automation on employment and ensure that technological development remains focused on serving people.
Khanna, the ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, co-led the congressional delegation to the Vatican as part of a wider tour covering Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
The delegation discussed national security, strategic competition with China, economic security and opportunities for cooperation on artificial intelligence.
During their visit to Vatican City, the lawmakers attended Pope Leo XIV’s general audience. Khanna discussed Magnifica humanitas with the pontiff and welcomed his emphasis on protecting human dignity amid rapid advances in AI.
The delegation also met Monsignor Daniel Pacho, Under Secretary of the Secretariat of State. Their discussions included religious freedom in China, values-based foreign policy and the Pope’s approach to the ethical development of artificial intelligence.
The lawmakers also examined concerns surrounding excessive concentrations of technological power and the need to preserve human interests as AI systems become increasingly influential.
Separately, members of the delegation met an AI expert to discuss model distillation, safety guardrails and the expansion of data centres needed to support increasingly sophisticated AI systems.
Khanna’s letters put some of the world’s largest technology companies at the centre of the growing debate over AI’s potential consequences for employment, economic inequality and corporate responsibility.
The Vatican discussions also intersected with the delegation’s broader focus on China and economic security, with religious freedom in China and strategic competition with Beijing among the issues addressed during the European tour.
Khanna represents California’s 17th Congressional District, which includes parts of Silicon Valley and is closely connected to the US technology industry. His position has given him a prominent role in debates concerning AI development, employment and corporate accountability.
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party examines US strategic competition with China, including economic and national security concerns, critical technologies, supply chains and Beijing’s expanding global influence.
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