Pope urges UN to ban robot soldiers

Pope Leo XIV called for the disarmament of artificial intelligence on Friday, urging nations to treat the technology as a utility rather than an entity with rights. The Pope addressed United Nations member states, stating that machines are tools and not persons.

During the meeting, the Pontiff told delegates that humans have a responsibility to guide, change, and reject AI applications when necessary. He specifically encouraged states to take concrete steps toward banning lethal autonomous weapons during their upcoming session in Geneva next month.

The speech aligns with themes from the Pope's first major encyclical issued in May, which focused on safeguarding the human person during the age of artificial intelligence. Leo warned against granting AI systems legal personhood, emphasizing that decisions affecting life, freedom, and force must remain under effective human oversight.

This stance continues a trend begun by his predecessor. In 2024, Pope Francis called for a ban on autonomous weapons, asserting that no machine should choose to take a human life. Leo XIV has frequently cited AI as a central challenge of his pontificate, suggesting his selection of the name Leo references the church's leadership during the Industrial Revolution under Pope Leo XIII.

The address concluded with a request for international institutions to protect the common good from AI-related risks. The Pope called for shared standards, independent oversight, and clear accountability mechanisms to allow decisions about AI development to be examined and challenged, with remedies available for any harm caused.

UN member states are scheduled to meet in Geneva next month to discuss these issues. The Pope's remarks add religious weight to the ongoing diplomatic negotiations regarding the regulatory framework for autonomous systems.