Stories
Pope Leo Warns of AI Apocalypse, Urges Global Regulation
- •Pope Leo is making the risk of an AI apocalypse a central concern of his papacy, echoing Vatican warnings that predate recent alarms from major American tech firms.
- •He is expected to reiterate his concerns about AI in a speech at UNESCO in Paris, having previously called for global rules to oversee the industry.
- •The Vatican's involvement in AI discussions dates back to 2019, with Rev. Paolo Benanti, a leading Vatican advisor on AI, highlighting the unpredictable societal changes AI could bring.
- •Pope Leo's May encyclical warned that AI systems could spread misinformation, prioritize conflict, and lead to unending war, with Cardinal Pietro Parolin emphasizing the need for international regulation.
- •The Vatican has advocated for oversight, particularly for autonomous weapons systems, comparing AI-powered drones to indiscriminate landmines and the societal impact of generative AI to nuclear weapons.
Key Questions Answered
Pope Leo has repeatedly warned that artificial intelligence systems can spread misinformation, prioritize conflict, and potentially lead the world toward unending war or societal destruction. He has also raised major concerns over autonomous weapons systems and high-tech military applications operating beyond human control.
The Vatican began issuing public warnings about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence in 2019 by hosting two separate conferences on the technology, during which the late Pope Francis warned that AI-generated misinformation could spark a world war.
On September 16, the US bishops' conference established a new AI taskforce following a meeting with technology executives to discuss keeping artificial intelligence systems at the service of humanity and addressing its real-world dangers.
