Pope calls for artificial intelligence to be ‘disarmed’

Source Domain: www.rte.ie

Pope Leo XIV has written an encyclical titled “Magnifica Humanitas” that calls for artificial intelligence to be made “human-friendly” and warns against the dangers of an escalating competition for AI dominance.
The pontiff addressed concerns over “new forms of slavery,” such as exploitative labor conditions behind AI and technology production, calling for stronger regulation and ethical constraints.
He criticized the current “race for more powerful algorithms and larger datasets,” emphasizing the need for more active political involvement to slow the accelerating pace of AI growth.
Pope Leo XIV repudiated the “just war” theory, stating that the use of force and violence in wars has disastrous consequences and is outdated.
He called for ethical constraints in any use of AI in warfare and explicitly said it is “not permissible” to entrust AI systems with lethal decisions.
Additionally, he expressed regret for the Church’s delayed condemnation of transatlantic slavery, apologizing in the name of the Church.
The pope urged world leaders to address AI risks collaboratively, invoking the biblical story of the Tower of Babel as a warning against human overreaching without divine blessing.
The encyclical highlighted the moral responsibility of every individual to participate in actions that can make a difference in ensuring a humane development of AI technology.

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