Pope Francis has called for an international treaty to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI), expressing concerns over the potential rise of a "technological dictatorship" that could pose a threat to peace and democracy. In his annual message for the World Day of Peace, Francis urged world leaders to develop a binding international treaty on AI within an ethical framework. The 86-year-old pontiff emphasized that the unique human capacity for moral judgment and ethical decision-making cannot be reduced to programming a machine, regardless of its intelligence.

Francis raised a number of urgent questions regarding the consequences of new digital technologies in the medium and long term, including their impact on individuals, societies, international stability, and peace. He particularly warned against AI-controlled weapons systems, describing them as a "cause for grave ethical concern." The pope also expressed alarm about the potential misuse of technology, such as interference in elections, the rise of a surveillance society, and growing inequalities. He highlighted that these factors could fuel conflicts and hinder peace.

Despite his cautionary message, Pope Francis acknowledged the impressive achievements of science and technology, stating that AI also presents exciting opportunities. However, he maintained that AI must be developed and used ethically, with values rooted in compassion, mercy, morality, and forgiveness.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, one of the pope's collaborators, emphasized during a press conference that Francis is not against AI technology itself. Instead, the pope sees AI as one of the highest-stakes gambles on humanity's future. The call for AI regulation by Pope Francis comes shortly after EU officials reached a provisional agreement on a new AI law. Similarly, a bipartisan group of legislators in the United States is considering a framework for regulating AI.

The pope's concerns about AI are not purely theoretical but also personal. Earlier this year, an AI-generated image of him wearing a white puffer jacket went viral, demonstrating how quickly deepfake imagery can spread online.

The Vatican's message coincided with the release of the EU's comprehensive AI rules, which are expected to serve as a global standard for AI regulation. While AI has garnered attention for its remarkable advancements, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, there are also fears regarding its impact on jobs, privacy, copyright, and even human life itself. Pope Francis emphasized these concerns in his message and stressed the need to guarantee fundamental human rights, promote peace, and guard against disinformation, discrimination, and distortion in the development and deployment of AI.

The pope's greatest alarm was directed towards the use of AI in the armaments sector, an issue he has previously spoken out against. He criticized the distancing effect that remote weapons systems have on the perception of war's devastation and the burden of responsibility for their use. Francis called for meaningful human oversight of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) and denounced the promotion of war through new technologies.

Furthermore, the pope warned about the profound repercussions of automated systems that rank and categorize individuals. He highlighted the potential impact on job security, as well as the ability of such technology to determine an applicant's eligibility for a mortgage, a migrant's right to political asylum, or the likelihood of reoffending by a previously convicted individual.

In conclusion, Pope Francis's call for an international treaty to regulate AI reflects his concerns about the potential risks posed by the technology. He urges leaders to approach AI development and deployment with ethical considerations, ensuring human rights, promoting peace, and guarding against the misuse and negative consequences of AI.