Key facts
- The Vatican has been warning about the risks of AI since 2019, with Pope Leo placing the issue at the core of his papacy.
- Pope Leo warned in May that AI systems could spread misinformation, prioritize conflict, and lead to unending war.
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin reiterated the call for international regulation, stating that the future of humanity is at stake.
- AI leaders recently warned the UN Security Council about the potential security risks from increasingly powerful AI systems.
- The Vatican's advocacy against autonomous weaponry dates back decades, with AI-powered drones likened to indiscriminate landmines.
The Vatican has been raising concerns about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence for years, with Pope Leo making it a central focus of his papacy. This long-standing concern contrasts with more recent warnings issued by AI leaders to the UN Security Council.
Rev. Paolo Benanti, a key Vatican advisor on AI, stated that the Holy See's engagement with the issue predates the recent calls for a slowdown from AI firm CEOs. He noted that the transformative power of AI could lead to unpredictable societal changes.
Pope Leo, the first US-born pope, has frequently discussed the potential dangers of AI development since the early days of his papacy. In May, he issued an appeal warning that AI systems could spread misinformation, escalate conflict, and potentially lead to unending war. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's top diplomat, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for global rules and international cooperation, stating that "the future of humanity is really at stake here."
The Vatican's engagement with AI risks began in 2019 with two conferences. During one event, the late Pope Francis warned that AI-driven misinformation could spark a world war. In 2020, the Vatican collaborated with Microsoft, IBM, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Italian government to advocate for AI development that prioritizes human well-being over profit and job replacement.
Pope Leo has specifically urged oversight for autonomous weapons systems, likening AI-powered drones to indiscriminate landmines and drawing parallels to the Vatican's long-standing advocacy for nuclear disarmament. Benanti explained that while nuclear weapons are visible and controllable, the manipulation of generative AI content in social spaces poses a less visible but equally significant threat to societal cohesion.