Pope joins calls for international AI oversight

Concerned about potential 'technological dictatorship'

Pope Francis has stressed the need for a binding international treaty to oversee the development and application of AI, sharing concerns about the potential for a “technological dictatorship.”

In his message for the World Day of Peace, the Pope emphasised the importance of regulating AI to prevent harmful practices, and promote best practices. He questioned the consequences of new digital technologies on individuals, societies, international stability and world peace.

"Any number of urgent questions need to be asked. What will be the consequences, in the medium and long term, of these new digital technologies?" Francis asked in his six-page document on AI. "And what impact will they have on individual lives and on societies, on international stability and world peace?"

AI regulation in the EU

The European Union recently agreed the AI Act, a landmark on global AI regulation. Meanwhile, in the United States, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is considering necessary guardrails for AI, and controversies in Silicon Valley have sparked debates on industry limits.

Similar to his previous exhortation on climate change in October 2023, in his speech the Pope advocated for greater commitment to multilateral action in regulating emerging technologies.

He acknowledged AI's potential benefits in agriculture, education and social connections, but warned that it could also pose risks to human survival and the planet.

He also raised alarm about AI's role in armed conflicts, emphasising the potential negative impact on peace. He said he rejected the use of autonomous weapon systems, stressing the need for human oversight due to ethical considerations.

During a Vatican press conference, Cardinal Michael Czerny, a close collaborator of the Pope, said that while the Pope supports scientific progress, AI is a high-stakes gamble dependent on the values of its creators.