Pope Leo urges international action on artificial intelligence
Pope Leo XIV has urged for the “disarmament” of artificial intelligence systems, emphasizing that humans bear the responsibility to control and, if needed, reject their applications. During Friday’s Papal Address, the Pope encouraged nations participating in the United Nations to pursue restrictions on lethal autonomous weapons during their upcoming meeting in Geneva next month.
The address builds upon themes presented in Pope Leo’s major papal document from May, which focused on protecting human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence. He reiterated that “Machines are tools, not persons,” cautioning against granting AI systems legal rights or personhood. Pope Leo stressed that human oversight must always govern decisions impacting human life, freedom, and the use of force.
This follows a similar call in 2024 from Pope Francis, who advocated for a ban on autonomous weapons, stating, “No machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being.” Pope Leo has increasingly addressed AI, reportedly selecting his papal name to reflect his role in navigating technological advancements, drawing parallels to Pope Leo XIII’s leadership during the Industrial Revolution.
Concluding his address, Pope Leo called for international organizations to protect the common good from AI-related risks. He advocated for shared standards, independent oversight, and clear accountability measures to ensure the development and use of AI can be reviewed, challenged, and accompanied by remedies for any harm.
Source
“Pope Leo calls for the disarmament of AI: ‘Machines are tools, not persons’”
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