In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna interviews Devan Patel, a lawyer and strategist who collaborates with multi-faith communities on technology, policy, and ethics. The discussion centers on the intersection of artificial intelligence, human dignity, and religious communities, particularly focusing on the Vatican's forward-looking involvement in the AI discourse. Patel shares details about the newly released papal encyclical Magnifica Humanitas issued by Pope Leo XIV, which addresses the safeguarding of human dignity in the age of AI. Drawing historical parallels to Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum, which responded to the Industrial Revolution, the conversation explores how various global faith leaders are universally responding to the risks of AI—such as companion chatbots affecting youth—and how the Vatican’s receptive, human-centric framework provides a welcome platform for collaborative, cross-disciplinary dialogue on technology's future.

Devan Patel is a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer, political strategist, and educator who operates at the intersection of law, faith, and technology. He is the founder and president of Crux Advisory Group, a fellow in AI ethics at the Rainey Center for Public Policy, and an adjunct professor of law at Notre Dame Law School. Throughout his career, Patel has focused heavily on legal strategy, public policy, and international AI ethics, which includes co-drafting the Electoral Count Reform Act, working on amendments for the Respect for Marriage Act, and convening industry leaders and faith figures at the Vatican to establish global ethical principles for artificial intelligence.