Pope Leo has stated that concerns regarding artificial intelligence (AI) safety should be taken seriously, asserting that the issues raised by AI experts warrant discussion and action. During a news conference on Monday, he addressed the responsibilities of the United States and China in preventing potential catastrophic risks associated with AI.
The pope, who dedicated his first encyclical to AI and its implications for humanity, responded to US President Donald Trump's characterization of AI concerns as a "hoax." Throughout his 16-month papacy, Leo has consistently warned about the dangers posed by AI. He remarked, "I do think that the concerns raised by many of the experts, specialists in AI, should be taken seriously. I don’t think that that is fake news, as some have said."
On his flight back to Rome after a four-day trip to France, Leo referenced comments made by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who suggested that guardrails could be implemented in certain AI models. However, the pope expressed skepticism about Huang's stance, noting that Huang has also argued against limits and government regulation on technology.
The Vatican has recently intensified its advocacy for international AI governance, particularly in relation to nuclear technology, culture, and artistic creation. Leo identified AI as a significant challenge for humanity shortly after his election and took the unusual step of launching his own encyclical in collaboration with Christopher Olah, cofounder of Anthropic, at a Vatican event in May.
He emphasized the need for ongoing dialogue among political leaders, AI developers, and social organizations to address current issues and anticipate future challenges. "We need to continue to invite political leaders, leaders of AI, social organisations, associations to come together and look at what is happening already and what could be down the road," the pontiff stated.
Leo urged the global community to promote dialogue, study, and investigation to ensure that AI does not reach a point where it could threaten humanity. He concluded, "I think that there are enough people seriously interested in that… but we have to keep working. We can’t just sit back and pretend nothing’s going to happen."