In a pontiff's 1st speech at G7, Francis raises alarm about AI

Pope Francis

challenged leaders of the world's wealthy democracies Friday to keep

human dignity

foremost in developing and using

artificial intelligence

, warning that such powerful technology risks turning human relations themselves into mere algorithms. Francis brought his moral authority to bear on the

G7

, invited by host Italy to address a special session on the perils and promises of AI.

In doing so, he became the first pope to attend the G7. "The benefits and the damages it causes will depend on the way it is used," he declared, warning of the risks of

AI

's uncontrolled development. He called for lethal autonomous weapons, which are unmanned and uncontrolled by a human hand, to be banned. "No machine should ever decide whether to take the life of a human being away."
Francis called for an international treaty to ensure AI is developed and used ethically. He himself has been a victim of AI when manipulated images of him clad in a white puffer jacket and a jewel-encrusted crucifix went viral last year.
The pope's appearance was the emotional highlight of theday. Italy PM Giorgia Meloni guided the pope, in a wheelchair, around a circular table to meet the leaders, he was greeted by a visibly moved Prez Biden and got an enthusiastic hug from Argentina's flamboyant prez Javier Milei.