Pope Leo XIV, in his first major encyclical titled “Magnifica Humanitas” (“Magnificent Humanity”), calls for the “disarming” of artificial intelligence and urges governments to slow and tightly regulate AI development. The pope warns that AI is being driven by what he describes as a “culture of power,” with a global push toward ever more powerful algorithms and larger datasets linked to geopolitical or commercial dominance.

Across multiple reports, the pope also warns that AI can enable harm in several forms, including misinformation and increased risks of conflict. Several outlets cite his concern that AI-linked weapons and other autonomous systems may be moving beyond human control, which he says raises ethical concerns about delegating lethal decisions to machines.

The pope links these dangers to broader human rights stakes, including fears of “new forms of slavery” and the prospect of unending war. Reports also note that he presented the encyclical at the Vatican alongside AI experts, including Christopher Olah, and that the document contributes to ongoing debate about how far AI should be regulated.