Pope Francis made history on Friday as the first pontiff to address a Group of Seven (G7) summit, where he called for a ban on "lethal autonomous weapons."
Speaking at the summit in Puglia, southern Italy, the Pope emphasized the need to reconsider the development and use of such weapons, ultimately aiming to ban them altogether.
"In light of the tragedy that is armed conflict, it is urgent to reconsider the development and use of devices like the so-called 'lethal autonomous weapons' and ultimately ban their use," the Pope said.
He stressed the importance of human control in the decision-making process, stating, "No machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being."
The G7 leaders, representing Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States, acknowledged the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in promoting progress and development in societies.
However, they also recognized the need for a framework to ensure responsible development and use of AI in the military domain.
Pope Francis highlighted the dual nature of AI, describing it as "at the same time an exciting and fearsome tool." He cautioned against allowing AI to determine the course of human lives, warning that doing so would condemn humanity to a future without hope.
The Pope's remarks come amid growing concerns about the use of AI in modern warfare, particularly regarding the risks of escalation and the role of humans in decision-making.
AI systems are capable of producing models of battlefields and proposing responses to attacks, potentially including the use of nuclear weapons.
Pope Francis emphasized the need to safeguard human control over AI programs, stating, "We need to ensure and safeguard a space for proper human control over the choices made by artificial intelligence programmes: human dignity itself depends on it."
The G7 leaders' draft statement echoed the Pope's sentiments, acknowledging the impact of AI on the military domain and the necessity for a framework to guide its responsible development and use.
Earlier in the day, Pope Francis met with comedians from around the world, including Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, and Jimmy Fallon, to discuss the importance of humor in spreading serenity and smiles in times of social and personal emergencies.
The Pope's historic address at the G7 summit underscores the growing importance of addressing the ethical implications of AI and autonomous weapons in an increasingly interconnected world.
