Vatican presses world leaders at UN to work on rules for lethal autonomous weapons

UNITED NATIONS — The Vatican’s top diplomat urged world leaders Tuesday to put a pause on lethal autonomous weapons systems for long enough negotiate an agreement on them, joining a series of U.N. General Assembly speakers who have expressed concern about various aspects of artificial intelligence. “Only human beings are truly capable of seeing and judging the ethical impact of their actions, as well as assessing their consequent responsibilities.” The Vatican also likes the idea of creating an international AI organization focused on facilitating scientific and technological exchange for peaceful uses and “the promotion of the common good and integral human development,” he said. Gallagher pointed to several statements that Pope Francis has made this year about the digital world, including: “It is not acceptable that the decision about someone’s life and future be entrusted to an algorithm.” The Vatican likes the idea of creating an international AI organization focused on facilitating scientific and technological exchange for peaceful uses and “the promotion of the common good and integral human development,” Gallagher said. Gallagher called for starting talks toward a legally binding pact to govern lethal autonomous weapons systems — colloquially known as “killer robots” — and for “a moratorium on them pending the conclusion of negotiations.” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has called for banning such systems if they function without human control or oversight and aren’t compliant with international humanitarian law.