Pope says ‘most urgent’ challenge facing AI race is need for institutional ethical framework

Pope Leo XIV on Friday told a Vatican gathering of artificial intelligence researchers and experts that the “most urgent” challenge was to identify international institutions that will put ethical principles guiding AI development into practice.

The American pope, who has made AI a key priority, said the principles are already known but what is missing are the institutions that can effectively safeguard the global common good.

“This calls for shared standards, independent oversight and clear mechanisms of accountability, so that decisions concerning the development and use of AI can be examined, challenged when necessary, and accompanied by appropriate remedies for any harm caused,” he told the meeting.