POPE LEO XIV TO THE FUTURE OF AI : A DIALOGUE WITH THE SCIENTIFIC WORLD ON INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES

The ethical governance of artificial intelligence must prioritize human dignity and the common good over technological speed or power. As a human-developed tool, AI's trajectory is not predetermined but depends on the active responsibility to guide, change, or reject specific applications based on their purpose. Machines lack the lived experience, physical presence, and emotional maturity of persons, making the granting of legal personhood a dangerous distraction from human accountability. Critical decisions involving the use of force, such as lethal autonomous weapons, must remain under informed human oversight to prevent individuals from being reduced to mere data points. While ethical principles for AI development are well-established, the urgent priority is the creation of effective international institutions and accountability mechanisms to enforce these standards and ensure innovation benefits all of humanity rather than a privileged few.