Pope Leo Urges 'Disarmament' of AI and Cautions Against Autonomous Weapons

Pope Leo calls for the 'disarmament' of artificial intelligence, urging a slowdown in AI development to prioritize human well-being and address ethical concerns, especially regarding autonomous weapons and algorithmic bias.

Mon May 25 2026

Pope Leo Calls for 'Disarmament' of AI

Pope Leo, speaking from Vatican City, emphasized the need for artificial intelligence (AI) to be 'disarmed,' explaining his strong choice of words. He urged the world to slow down the rush on AI development, stressing the importance of attracting attention, awakening consciences, and indicating paths forward for humanity. The Pope stated that such strong language was deliberately chosen because this moment demands words capable of highlighting the potential dangers and guiding humanity toward a responsible future.

Human-Centric AI Development and Ethical Concerns

Pope Leo advised against fearing AI but insisted on constantly keeping the question of the human in play. He expressed significant concern over reports of increasingly autonomous weapons systems operating beyond human control. Furthermore, he highlighted troubling accounts of algorithms that could block access to healthcare, employment, and security based on data tainted by prejudice and injustice. He warned against being careless with humanity's most powerful technical instruments.

*Source: YouTube: USA TODAY (2026-05-25)*

Tags: #ai #tech #ethics #vatican