Pope Leo renewed a warning Thursday that artificial intelligence poses dangers to security and international peace, urging leaders to govern it wisely. He has called for global rules and oversight of weapons systems he says have advanced beyond practical human control.
In his May appeal, issued as his first major document, Leo warned that AI systems spread misinformation, prioritize conflict and could lead the world toward unending war. He was expected to repeat his warnings Friday in a speech at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters.
The Vatican has held conferences on AI risks since 2019; Pope Francis warned at one that misinformation spread by AI could spark a world war. In 2020, the Vatican joined Microsoft, IBM, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and Italy in calling for AI development not focused solely on profit or replacing workers.
