Pope Leo urges AI regulation and warns that some weapons are now beyond human control

Pope Leo issued his first major encyclical, *Magnifica Humanitas*, on Monday, urging governments to regulate AI development to prevent misinformation, conflict escalation, and autonomous weapons exceeding human control. The 43,000-word document, released during a Vatican event attended by Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah, criticized unchecked AI competition and called for data ownership reforms, worker protections, and safeguards for children. Leo argued that AI-driven warfare must face 'the most rigorous ethical constraints,' explicitly rejecting the traditional 'just war' theory as outdated. He warned that leaders might exploit conflicts to distract from domestic issues, while arms industry profits fuel global instability. The encyclical cited 'astounding brutality' in recent wars, particularly against civilians, framing peace as a responsibility rather than a temporary respite. The pope emphasized the need for 'active political involvement' to slow AI advancement, advocating for independent oversight, informed users, and political accountability. He stressed that AI systems should never be entrusted with lethal decisions, citing risks of 'relational poverty' and civilian harm. Anthropic’s Olah acknowledged commercial pressures in AI labs but supported external scrutiny to align incentives with ethical standards. Beyond AI, Leo condemned the Church’s historical role in slavery, though the full apology was cut off in the provided text. The encyclical’s release follows Leo’s earlier criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Iran war stance, signaling a more assertive tone on global conflicts. The document’s scope reflects growing Vatican concern over technology’s ethical and geopolitical implications.