Pope Leo XIV Calls for Disarmament of AI in First Papal Encyclical

Warning Against Autonomous Warfare

Pope Leo XIV has issued a formal warning regarding the dangers posed by autonomous weapons systems. In a document known as an encyclical—a papal letter used to outline the church's perspective on key topics—the pontiff called for AI technology to be "disarmed" to prevent it from "dominating humanity".

Specifically, Pope Leo XIV stated that artificial intelligence should never be utilized to make lethal decisions. The document, titled *Magnifica humanitas*, explicitly rules out the practice of algorithmic warfare.

Concerns Over Big Tech and Inequality

Beyond the military applications of AI, the 83-page manifesto examines the social areas being reshaped by the technology. Pope Leo XIV took direct aim at the power of Big Tech, warning that the current trajectory of AI development risks widening global inequality and weakening democratic structures.

In the encyclical, the Pope argued that artificial intelligence must serve humanity as a whole rather than serving a "powerful few". He called for the breaking up of monopolistic control over the technology. Additionally, the document addresses the potential for mass job losses resulting from AI integration.

Philosophical and Human Impact

*Magnifica humanitas* serves as a sweeping manifesto on safeguarding humanity in the AI era. The pontiff warned that the proliferation of AI could undermine the fundamental definition of what it means to be human.

According to reports, the Pope also raised concerns regarding the influence of chat bots within the context of this technological shift. The document is presented as a moral and social framework for the Church to navigate the perils and promises of artificial intelligence.

Release and Collaboration

The encyclical was published in Rome on Monday, May 25. The release of the document coincided with the presence of Chris Olah, the co-founder of AI company Anthropic, who was in Rome for the presentation.