Pope Leo says concerns about AI doom are not ‘fake news’

On Monday, Pope Leo declared that worries surrounding artificial intelligence leading to the end of the world are not "fake news" and should be taken seriously, in apparent disagreement with US President Donald Trump. As the initial pope from the United States, Leo has consistently cautioned about the perils of AI during his 16-month papacy. He also directly criticized technology industry leaders who argued there should be no restrictions on the technology.

During a press conference on his return flight from France, Leo stated that he finds the concerns raised by many AI experts credible. He rejected the notion that these worries are "fake news" as some have suggested. Trump had previously claimed at the UN General Assembly that fears regarding the dangers of AI to humanity were a "hoax." The pontiff expressed doubt about a recent announcement by the head of chipmaker Nvidia, who suggested a potential method to insert safety measures into certain AI models.

Despite this, Leo maintained a skeptical stance, adding that Huang is the same individual who advocates for the absence of any limits and governmental regulation. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had previously told CBS News that he agreed with Trump that safety concerns about AI were overstated.

Leo urged the global community to foster open dialogue, conduct thorough research, and explore ways to ensure AI does not reach a stage where it could potentially endanger humanity. He expressed confidence that there are enough people genuinely concerned about this issue but stressed the importance of continued efforts. He emphasized that they cannot simply stand by and assume nothing will occur.