Pope Francis calls for ban on lethal AI weapons in historic G7 speech

Francis, invited by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to address the Group of Seven summit, has repeatedly denounced the arms industry and those he says profit from wars and death.

AI is already used on the battlefield and its evolution in modern warfare raises concerns about the risks of escalation and the role of humans in decision-making.

AI has proven to be faster but not necessarily safer or more ethical, and developing weapon systems capable of killing without human intervention poses ethical and legal challenges.

“Artificial intelligence [is] both an exciting and formidable tool,” Francis told leaders gathered at the luxury Borgo Egnazia hotel complex.

“We would condemn humanity to a hopeless future if we removed people's ability to make decisions about themselves and their lives, condemning them to depend on the choices of machines,” he warned.

The G7, which brings together Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, said Friday that AI “can play a crucial role in promoting progress and the development of our societies.

“We recognize the impact of AI on the military domain and the need for a framework for responsible development and use,” the leaders said in a draft statement seen by Agence France-Presse.

At the strategic level, AI will produce models of battlefields and suggest responses to attacks, or even the use of nuclear weapons.

“We must guarantee and safeguard a space of appropriate human control over the choices made by artificial intelligence programs: human dignity itself depends on it,” Francis said.

The Argentine pontiff was speaking after a series of meetings with world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, France's Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Francis had spent the morning clowning around with comedians at the Vatican, including Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock and Jimmy Fallon.

He has met more than 100 “comedy artists” as part of his efforts to engage with contemporary culture.

“Instead of reading my speech, I’m just going to do this,” the smiling pontiff said, putting his thumb in his ear and wiggling his fingers toward a room full of comedians.

But he also had a serious message to send to the actors coming from 15 countries, from Argentina to Germany and East Timor.

“Immersed as we are in numerous social and personal emergencies, you have the power to spread serenity and smiles,” the pope told them.

“You are among the few who have the ability to speak to very different people, from different generations, backgrounds and cultures,” Francis said.

Among the 107 comedians was Briton Stephen Merchant, from the television show Officethe American comedian Rock and the Italian Silvio Orlando, who played an intriguing cardinal in The young pope.

A few seconds before Francis' arrival, Fallon, the host of the Tonight Show in the United States, caused the room to burst into laughter as he pranced in front.

Sisters Act star Goldberg and Julia Louis-Dreyfus of Seinfeld celebrity floated to the front row as the pope entered the Vatican's gilded and frescoed hall.

Goldberg once joked about giving the pope an appearance in Sister Act 3.

Asked if she had pressed the point on Friday, she joked that “it wasn't a good time, I'll probably send him an email,” according to the ANSA news agency.