Pope Francis Calls for an International Treaty on Ethical AI Development

In a recent address, Pope Francis has underscored the urgent need for an international treaty to ensure the ethical development and application of artificial intelligence (AI). On Thursday, the Pontiff expressed his concerns regarding the significant risks posed by a technology devoid of human compassion, mercy, morality, and forgiveness. He emphasized that an absence of these crucial human values in AI could lead to formidable consequences.

Global AI Regulations

The Pope's call to action aligns with a growing international chorus seeking enforceable global regulation for AI technologies. He made this plea in his annual message on the occasion of the World Day of Peace, which is observed by the Catholic Church every 1st of January. The Vatican released the text of his message, underscoring its importance.

The Personal Impact of AI on the Pope

For Pope Francis, this issue has personal resonance. Earlier in the year, an AI-generated image depicting him in an opulent white coat went viral, bringing to light the ease with which realistic yet fraudulent images can spread across the internet.

EU's Pioneering AI Legislation

This call for ethical guidelines in AI development comes in the wake of the European Union's provisional approval of the world's first AI legislation. The EU's regulatory framework promises to set a benchmark for other countries to consider when crafting their own AI laws.

AI, ethics, treaty