Pope Leo calls for the disarmament of AI: ‘Machines are tools, not persons’

Pope Leo XIV delivered a Papal Address calling for AI systems to be “disarmed,” emphasizing that humans “have the responsibility to guide, change and, when necessary, reject its applications.” He encouraged United Nations member states to “take concrete steps toward banning lethal autonomous weapons” at their meeting in Geneva next month. The address echoes his first major papal document from May, which focused on “safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence.” Pope Leo warned against granting AI systems rights or legal personhood, stating that “Machines are tools, not persons,” and insisted that decisions affecting human life, freedom, and the use of force must remain under effective, informed, and responsible human oversight. He also called for international institutions to establish shared standards, independent oversight, and clear accountability mechanisms for AI development and use, with remedies for any harm caused. He noted that he chose his name because he must confront advances in technology, similar to how Pope Leo XIII led the church during the Industrial Revolution, and referenced Pope Francis’s 2024 call for a ban on autonomous weapons.

(Source：The Verge)