Pope Leo calls for AI systems that don't foster divisions

Pope Leo has been a vocal advocate for the responsible development of artificial intelligence during his 16-month tenure as pontiff. Speaking on his third day in office, he cautioned that AI could lead humanity towards perpetual warfare.

In a message delivered at a conference on AI held in Rome, Pope Leo emphasized the need for AI systems that do not exacerbate societal divisions, but rather foster peace. He urged developers to create technologies that honor the dignity of every individual and reinforce the bonds that connect humanity.

The pontiff, the first U.S.-born pope, has made the potential dangers of AI a central focus of his papacy. In May, he released a landmark document warning against the spread of misinformation and the prioritization of conflict through AI systems. He subsequently called for global regulation of the industry.

Monday's conference at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, titled "AI4Peace," brought together experts from various fields. US economist Jeffrey Sachs, Rome's city council president Svetlana Celli, and Francisco Rojas Aravena, rector of the UN University for Peace in Costa Rica, were among the speakers. Rev. Andrea Ciucci, chancellor of the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life, read Pope Leo's message aloud to the attendees.