In a May 27, 2026, article published by Law360, Michal Shinnar discusses how Pope Leo XIV’s recent comments on artificial intelligence could influence future workplace accommodation requests and create new challenges for employers adopting AI technologies.
The pope urged employers to use AI responsibly, emphasizing the importance of protecting jobs and preserving the role of individuals in the workplace. While many employment attorneys do not view the pope’s remarks as a basis for employees to completely opt out of using AI, Michal noted that workers may rely on those statements when requesting religious accommodations.
“There will be more requests after the pope’s encyclical. How could there not be? One of the world’s biggest religions took a stance on the topic,” Michal said.
Michal also explained that accommodation requests involving AI will likely depend on the employee’s specific role and how heavily AI is integrated into their day-to-day responsibilities. As more employers incorporate AI into workplace functions, companies will need to evaluate these requests on a case-by-case basis and balance religious accommodation obligations with business needs.
Read the full article “Pope’s Warning Raises Prospect Of AI, Faith Friction At Work” (PDF).
