"Ignoring Risks Is Irresponsible" – Pope Leo XIV Warns Trump Over Dismissal of AI Threats

Amid US-China AI Hegemony Race, Safety Concerns Rekindled
Pope: "Debate Must Go Beyond Who Gains the Upper Hand"
Pope Leo XIV Stresses the Need for Joint International Action

Pope Leo XIV urged the international community to take active countermeasures, stating that concerns raised by experts over the grave threat artificial intelligence (AI) could pose to humanity should not be dismissed as mere "fake news." This presents a clear contrast to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has downplayed the risks of AI as a "hoax" and has insisted that development speed should not be slowed down.

Pope Leo XIV gave a potential warning about the catastrophic risks AI could pose to humanity during a press conference held on his plane returning to Rome after his visit to France. Photo by AP Yonhap News

On September 29, Yonhap News, citing AP and Reuters, reported that Pope Leo XIV issued a potential warning about the catastrophic risks AI could present to humanity during a press conference held on his private plane as he returned to Rome after his state visit to France. When asked about AI safety, the Pope said, "This is an issue we need to sit down and talk about seriously," and added, "We cannot simply step back and ignore it as if nothing will happen."

He clarified that he was not in a "state of panic" because of AI, but emphasized that warnings raised by AI experts and researchers should not be taken lightly. In particular, he rejected the view held by some that AI risk narratives are exaggerated claims created by corporations or experts to gain economic benefit through regulation. The Pope expressed the view that "I don't think it's fake news invented for some benefit."

Pope Responds to Trump’s Rejection of AI Risk: “I Don’t See It as Fake News Driven by Self-Interest”

These remarks stand in contrast to President Trump's recent public dismissals of AI risk narratives. Previously, President Trump declared on his social media platform Truth Social, on the 14th, that assertions of AI taking over the world and destroying humanity were a "hoax." He also argued that opposition to AI and data centers could undermine U.S. technological competitiveness and benefit China, expressing a negative stance toward regulatory measures that would limit AI development.

Debate in the United States has intensified as the rapid advancement of AI technology sparks controversy over regulation. Even among major AI companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI, there are calls for independent safety assessments and regulatory mechanisms for high-performing AI systems. On the other hand, there are opposing arguments that excessive regulation could slow down innovation among American companies and prove disadvantageous in the AI power competition with China.

The Pope's warning about AI is not the first. In May, Pope Leo XIV emphasized in his first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas" (Great Humanism), that AI technology must not escape human control or become a tool to strengthen the power of a few corporations and countries. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Pope Leo XIV stressed that instead of drawing conclusions from one-sided arguments, political leaders, AI companies, researchers, and civil society organizations must continue to monitor the progress of technology. He said, "Political leaders, AI leaders, social organizations, and associations need to come together and keep examining what is already happening and what might happen in the future." He pointed out that ignoring risk simply because it seems unlikely is not a responsible approach.

"Technology Must Not Dominate Humanity" – In His First Encyclical Last May, the Pope Called for “Disarm AI”

This is not the first time the Pope has issued a warning about AI. In his first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas" (Great Humanity), released last May, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that AI technology should never escape human control or become a means to strengthen the power of a handful of corporations or countries. At the time, the Pope proposed the "disarm AI" concept, meaning that AI should be separated from military, economic, and geopolitical competition logic. This proposal is not about rejecting AI itself, but about preventing technology from dominating human beings and removing it from monopolistic control, placing it instead in the realm of public discussion and shared responsibility.

The encyclical particularly stressed that, if AI were used in warfare, the power to determine life and death must not be handed over to an algorithm, and that ultimate decisions on the use of lethal force must always remain under genuine human control.

At Magnifique Humanitas, the Pope proposed the 'disarm AI' concept, suggesting that AI should be separated from military, economic, and geopolitical competition logics. This does not mean rejecting AI itself, but aims to prevent technology from dominating humans and to move beyond monopolistic control into the realm of public discussion and responsibility. Photo by AFP Yonhap News.

However, the Pope does not view the future of AI with outright pessimism. He expressed himself as "relatively optimistic" about the possibility of finding solutions to AI safety issues, observing that there are enough people seriously considering the impact AI will have on humanity beyond matters of technological hegemony or market dominance. As the rivalry between the United States and China over AI intensifies and countries continue massive investments, the Pope’s repeated calls for an international dialogue rooted in human control and safety are likely to further intensify debates surrounding AI regulation and the pace of its development.

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