Pope Leo urges disarmament of AI, calling machines tools not persons
autonomous
| Source: The Verge | Original article
Pope Leo urges UN members to ban lethal autonomous weapons, calling for AI systems to be disarmed and treated as tools rather than persons.
Pope Leo XIV used his Friday papal address to call for the “disarmament” of artificial intelligence, stressing that machines are tools, not persons. Citing his encyclical *Magnifica Humanitas*, the pontiff warned that humanity bears the responsibility to guide, reshape and, when necessary, reject AI applications. He urged United Nations member states to take concrete steps toward banning lethal autonomous weapons, a plea he framed as part of a broader moral duty to keep technology under human control.
The statement marks the Vatican’s most direct intervention in the global debate over autonomous weaponry and AI personhood. By rejecting the notion of legal status for AI systems, the Pope challenges proposals that could dilute human accountability. His appeal arrives as governments and tech firms grapple with rapid advances in generative models, autonomous drones and AI‑driven decision‑making, issues that have already sparked policy moves such as OpenAI’s recent expansion of usage limits and Google DeepMind’s unveiling of a new world‑model system.
The next focal point will be the UN gathering in Geneva this November, where member states are expected to discuss regulatory frameworks for lethal autonomous weapons. Observers will watch for any formal resolutions inspired by the papal call, as well as reactions from defence ministries, AI developers and civil‑society groups. The Vatican’s moral framing could shape diplomatic language and potentially sway nations toward tighter controls on AI‑enabled weaponry.
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