Paul Graham to Pope Leo XIV: consider what you'll say when AIs are trained on visual experience
Paul Graham @paulg · x · 2026-10-02 · ★★ · archived
Y Combinator co-founder's reply to the Pope's AI-art post (~264k views) became the main tech-side rebuttal, discussed by Marginal Revolution and criticised by Catholic and SF press.
Summary
Replying to @Pontifex's Oct 2 post that there is "an ontological difference" between art and what a machine generates, Graham suggested the Pope's distinction may not last once AIs learn from their own visual experience, not only from human-made art. Marginal Revolution (Oct 6, "Paul Graham Versus the Pope") treated the argument sympathetically; the Gazetteer SF called it a "Biblical fail".
Archived text
@Pontifex Since your opinions are meant to last, you should consider what you'll say when AIs are trained on visual experience as well as art made by human artists, because that is presumably coming.
views 264,231 · likes 795 · reposts 17 (fxtwitter, 2026-10-07); posted Oct 2, 2026, 13:39 UTC
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