Pope Leo XIV calls for global ban on lethal autonomous weapons
Pope Leo XIV has urged UN member states to implement a ban on lethal autonomous weapons systems ahead of upcoming international talks in Geneva.
During a papal address on Friday, Pope Leo XIV advocated for the disarmament of artificial intelligence systems. He emphasized that humans bear the ultimate responsibility for guiding and limiting the application of AI, asserting that machines are tools rather than independent agents.
This position aligns with the Pope's May encyclical, which focused on safeguarding human dignity in the era of advanced technology. The address serves as a formal appeal to UN representatives to negotiate concrete prohibitions on weaponized AI during next month’s summit in Geneva.
The global debate over autonomous weapons systems remains contentious, with international bodies struggling to define regulatory frameworks for emerging military technologies. The upcoming Geneva meeting is expected to serve as a key venue for discussions on the legal and ethical boundaries of AI in defense.