Pope Leo XIV Urges the UN to Ban Autonomous Weapons

In a speech delivered on a Friday, Pope Leo XIV calls for international safeguards against the risks of AI. He demands common standards, independent oversight, and mechanisms for recourse, urging UN member states to act at their meeting in Geneva next month to ban lethal autonomous weapons.

Common Standards and Independent Oversight Requested

Pope Leo XIV urges international institutions to protect the common good in the face of the risks posed by artificial intelligence. He calls for the establishment of shared standards, independent oversight, and clear accountability mechanisms so that decisions related to the development and use of AI can be reviewed, contested if necessary, and accompanied by appropriate remedies in case of harm. He also asserts that any decision affecting human life, freedom, and the use of force must remain under effective, informed, and responsible human oversight.

Banning Lethal Autonomous Weapons on the Agenda in Geneva

Pope Leo XIV urges UN member states to take action to ban lethal autonomous weapons. He encourages them to adopt concrete measures at their meeting in Geneva next month. This stance extends a call already made in 2024 by Pope Francis, who believed that no machine should ever choose to take a human life.

Machines as Tools, Not Persons: The Advanced Ethical Framework

Pope Leo XIV reminds us that machines are tools and not persons, warning against granting rights or legal personhood to AI systems. He emphasizes the responsibility of humans to guide, modify, and, if necessary, reject uses of AI, going so far as to assert that these systems should be "disarmed." The speech echoes themes already presented in his first major papal document published in May, focused on the protection of human beings in the age of AI. He also suggests that he chose his name in light of technological advancements, resonating with the role of Pope Leo XIII in the face of the Industrial Revolution.