Pope Leo XIV urged on Friday that states meeting in Geneva in November for a disarmament conference adopt concrete measures to ban lethal autonomous weapons, saying that artificial intelligence must be “disarmed.” During a reception for participants of a Vatican‑hosted convention on the future of AI, the Pope said the development of AI is not progressing fast enough. “The future of artificial intelligence is not predetermined,” he noted, citing his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. “As a technology created by humans, its future depends on the decisions we make. We have a responsibility to guide, modify, and, when necessary, reject its applications.” He warned that some proposals to grant AI systems rights or legal personality risk obscuring human responsibility and leaving victims without a clear recourse. “Certain decisions should never be delegated to AI,” the Pope said. “Decisions that affect human life, liberty, and the use of force must always be subject to effective, informed, and responsible human oversight.” The Pope called for the disarmament of AI and urged the Geneva meeting to adopt concrete steps to prohibit lethal autonomous weapons. He emphasized that new technologies should never become ends in themselves or serve only the interests of a privileged few. He also highlighted the urgent need for shared norms, independent supervision, and clear accountability mechanisms so that decisions about the development and use of AI can be examined, questioned when necessary, and accompanied by appropriate corrective measures for any harm caused.
Article source: El Nuevo Diario | Image credit: El Nuevo Diario