Pope Francis has advocated for the establishment of a comprehensive global framework to oversee the burgeoning realm of artificial intelligence (AI). Emphasizing the critical need to preserve human dignity, the Pope warned against the emergence of a “technological dictatorship” that could undermine the core values of humanity.
The pontiff’s message, delivered ahead of the World Day of Peace on January 1, underscores the urgency for international cooperation in the face of AI’s rapid advancement. The Pope’s vision is for an international treaty, one with legal force, to manage AI’s multifaceted applications and ensure they align with ethical standards.
Highlighting the vast reach of AI, from simulating human conversation to coding, the Pope stressed the role of “sovereign states” and “international organizations” in spearheading a collaborative effort to draft and enforce such a treaty. This call to action resonates with recent movements within the European Union, which has just reached a provisional agreement on pioneering regulations for AI usage.
The Pope’s plea is a clarion call for unity: “I urge the global community of nations to work together in order to adopt a binding international treaty that regulates the development and use of artificial intelligence in its many forms.”
