ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Leo XIV stated on Monday that concerns surrounding artificial intelligence going rogue should not be dismissed as “fake news,” emphasizing the need for serious discourse on safety issues raised by experts, reports BritPanorama.
During a press conference as he returned from France, Leo addressed questions regarding actions that the United States and China should take to mitigate potential catastrophic risks posed by AI technology. This follows remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has previously labelled similar concerns a “hoax.”
“This is a problem that, I think, we need to sit down and talk about,” the pope remarked. “We can’t just sit back and pretend nothing is going to happen.”
Trump, an advocate for AI development, has expressed that limiting the technology is part of a “conspiracy” by political opponents. However, numerous AI organizations, such as Anthropic, have recommended a slowdown in development to ensure that safety measures can adequately address the rapid advancements in the field. Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, warned that in as little as six to 12 months, AI could pose significant threats.
During a late-night dinner with Amodei on Sunday, Trump reportedly discussed American concerns regarding the technology and strategies to maintain the U.S.’s technological edge. Leo asserted his position, indicating, “If someone were to ask me ‘Am I in panic mode?’ No I’m not. I sleep at night. I do think that the concerns raised by many of the experts, specialists in AI should be taken seriously.”
Moreover, he contested the notion that these concerns are merely “fake news.” In his first encyclical dedicated to AI and the importance of safeguarding humanity, Leo has been vocal about the need for decisive regulatory measures.
The pope says AI is one of the biggest challenges to humanity
In his encyclical titled “Magnificent Humanity,” Leo highlighted AI as one of humanity’s most pressing challenges. Despite the exhaustion from a rigorous four-day visit to France, he commented on a recent news report regarding AI safety measures introduced by Nvidia, which had previously resisted external regulations.
Since his election, Leo has recognized the potential dangers of AI and took the unconventional step of personally launching an encyclical in collaboration with Anthropic’s co-founder Christopher Olah at a Vatican event in May. This initiative aims to foster dialogue with Silicon Valley on the human implications of AI.
“We need to continue to invite political leaders, leaders of AI, social organizations, associations to come together and look at what is happening already and what could be down the road,” he urged.
He warned against a complacent attitude, stating, “To simply say ‘Oh it’s not going to happen’ and close our eyes to it I think is probably not the most responsible way to go about that.”
It’s not the first time the pope and Trump have disagreed
Leo’s remarks illustrate a continuing divergence from Trump, echoing previous disputes including Leo’s condemnation of the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran and criticism of the administration’s immigration policies.
Just last week, Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Xi emphasized the importance of ensuring that AI remains “always under human control.” In contrast, Trump sought to rebrand AI as “superintelligence” and resisted calls for comprehensive regulation; however, both leaders agreed to set up a new “notification mechanism” to address AI incidents influencing national security.
AI has emerged as a pivotal issue ahead of the U.S. elections, with major companies hastening to establish a national data center network as public anxiety about AI’s potential impact on critical resources continues to mount.
The pope says he’s optimistic about solutions
As apprehensions regarding AI grow, reports indicate that advanced systems are emerging which could address problems beyond human limitations but also carry risks of misuse. The CEO of OpenAI recently announced a delay in selling company stock to allow time for safety measures.
Since releasing his encyclical, Leo has received positive responses from individuals eager to engage in a collective discussion about AI. A Vatican commission is currently working to promote dialogue, study, and investigate methods to ensure that AI development does not endanger humanity.
Leo expressed optimism about finding solutions, citing a genuine interest among experts in addressing these challenges. He concluded, “I think there are enough people seriously interested in that and willing to look at that outside of the questions once again of power, who gets there first.”
