Pope: "AI Needs Disarmament"... Anthropic: "External Oversight Is Essential"

Pope Leo XIV Calls for the Disarmament of AI in His First Encyclical

Pope Leo XIV has highlighted the need for the "disarmament" of artificial intelligence (AI), while AI company Anthropic has voiced support for external oversight—signaling a rapid acceleration in ethical debates around AI.

Pope Leo XIV AFP Yonhap News

On May 25 (local time), at the Synod Hall of the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV delivered his inaugural encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas" (Great Humanity), emphasizing the "disarmament of AI." An encyclical is the highest authoritative document that the Pope issues to the global Catholic Church, and it is unusual for the Pope to announce one personally.

Pope Leo XIV stated, "Those who possess technology must reject the right to use AI as an instrument of governance. AI must be disarmed so that anyone can welcome and access it," adding, "Humanity must abandon the pursuit of building yet another Tower of Babel and join forces for the common good." This refers to the biblical Tower of Babel, which challenged divine authority, suggesting concerns that AI could escape human control and raise ethical issues.

He further stressed, "The digital environment is not controlled by states, but by economic powers and technology companies," warning that "the more power is concentrated in the hands of a few, the greater the risks of opacity, dependency, exclusion, and inequality become."

Pope Leo XIV also delivered a message of anti-war and peace. He warned that the advancement of war technology using AI and armed conflicts, as well as the proliferation of fake news and simplistic narratives triggered by AI, are fostering a culture favorable to war. He said, "The 'just war' theory, which has often been used to justify all kinds of wars, is now outdated," and "Violence reveals the poverty of human relationships."

Christopher Ola, co-founder of Anthropic, was also present for the announcement of the encyclical. Co-founder Ola agreed with Pope Leo XIV, stating that AI research labs, which operate primarily for profit, should be subject to verification by external oversight bodies.

He explained, "AI research labs operate in an environment where there is a conflict between doing the right thing and pursuing profit," adding, "External overseers who are independent of profit motives are crucial." He also emphasized, "I hope that religious communities, civil society, academia, and governments will embrace this issue and guide it in a better direction," stressing the need for "an ethical voice that cannot be bent by any vested interests."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.