On a recent segment on The Patrick Madrid Show, Patrick and Producer Cyrus delivered a classic blend of wit, wisdom, and tech-savvy caution after reading a surprising email from a listener named Mike in Arizona. Mike had stumbled upon a YouTube video claiming to feature a speech by Pope Leo XIV and was understandably skeptical. The question was simple but important: “Is this even real?” Naturally, Mike turned to Patrick for clarity.

To investigate, Patrick and Cyrus turned to Grok, a fancy AI-powered search tool that’s designed to fact-check content. They pasted the link into Grok and asked if the video was authentic or a case of AI fakery. The result? “AI-generated.” That’s right—according to Grok, the so-called papal message was the result of artificial intelligence, not an official statement from the Pope.

But the story doesn’t stop there. Cyrus made a key point during the conversation: just because something sounds true or echoes Church teaching doesn’t mean it actually came from a trusted source. This kind of deepfake content can be dangerous not because it contains outright heresy, but because it cloaks deception in the guise of truth. A fake voice—even if doctrinally sound—undermines trust and invites confusion.

And then came the funniest twist. Grok, in its AI imperfection, referred to Pope Leo XIV as a “fictitious figure.” Patrick and Cyrus couldn’t help but laugh. “He is literally the Pope,” they quipped. It was a reminder that even our most advanced tools can stumble, especially when trying to keep up with events as new as the election of a pope.

The takeaway was crystal clear. Patrick reached for a familiar phrase and gave it a timely upgrade. Ronald Reagan once said, “Trust, but verify.” Patrick now says, “Actually… don’t trust. Just verify.” That especially applies to viral videos, AI-generated content, and anything online that claims to speak for the Church.

So if you ever find yourself scratching your head over something you saw online—be it from a supposed pope, a theologian, or a Catholic personality—run it through some good discernment and maybe even send it in to Patrick at patrick@relevantradio.com. Who knows? Your question might be next on the air.