Pope Leo XIV Urges Global Disarmament of AI and Rejects AI Personhood

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

In a recent Papal address, Pope Leo XIV called on the United Nations to ban lethal autonomous weapons and warned against granting AI legal personhood, emphasizing human oversight and ethical responsibility in AI development and use.

Pope Leo XIV has publicly urged international action against the militarization and unchecked development of artificial intelligence in a significant address to global leaders. Emphasizing that "machines are tools, not persons," he advocated for the "disarmament" of AI systems, particularly calling on United Nations member states to enact a ban on lethal autonomous weapons. This call is timed ahead of the upcoming UN meeting in Geneva, where nuclear disarmament and AI ethics are on the agenda.

The Pope's message underscores the moral imperative for humans to retain control over AI technologies, stating that decisions involving human life, freedom, and the use of force "must always remain subject to effective, informed, and responsible human oversight." He cautioned against the dangerous precedent of granting AI systems rights or legal personhood, aligning with his broader perspective detailed in his May encyclical focused on "safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence."

This stance continues a precedent set by Pope Francis in 2024, who similarly called for banning autonomous weapons and affirmed that "no machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being." Pope Leo’s choice of name reflects his recognition of confronting transformative technological eras, drawing a parallel to Pope Leo XIII's leadership during the Industrial Revolution.

Concluding his address, Pope Leo advocated for international institutions to establish and enforce "shared standards, independent oversight and clear mechanisms of accountability" for AI development. He emphasized that such frameworks are essential to ensure that AI-related decisions can be scrutinized, legally challenged if necessary, and that remedies are available for any harms caused.

The Pontiff's intervention highlights the ethical concerns surrounding AI's growing role, particularly in autonomous weapons systems, calling for global cooperation to balance technological progress with safeguarding human dignity and security.