Pope Leo XIV warns against AI legal personhood to protect human responsibility

Pope Leo XIV issued a statement from the Vatican on the 30th of this month, emphasizing that while artificial intelligence (AI) is a tool created by humans, it must never be granted legal personhood or any legal rights. This statement has drawn widespread attention in global discussions on technology and ethics, as legislatures in multiple countries have recently begun exploring the possibility of incorporating AI into legal frameworks. The Pope noted that recognizing AI as having legal status could result in its actions escaping direct human supervision and accountability, thereby generating unpredictable risks and moral crises.

Central to the Pope’s remarks is the principle that "creators must bear responsibility." He pointed out that although AI system decisions may appear autonomous, they are fundamentally the product of a combination of code, data, and algorithms, with the ultimate decision-makers remaining the humans who design, deploy, and oversee the systems. Granting legal personhood to AI would obscure the attribution of liability, potentially allowing corporations or institutions to evade responsibility in cases of damage claims. Furthermore, it could weaken regulatory oversight of AI behavior, posing a threat to social justice and security.

The Pope’s warning also aligns with the concept of "human dignity" in Catholic ethics. Catholic doctrine holds that humans, created in the image of God, possess inalienable dignity and freedom. Treating AI as having legal personhood is equivalent to regarding it as a "person," which contradicts the Church’s understanding of human uniqueness. The Pope called upon governments and international organizations to prioritize a human-centered approach when formulating AI-related regulations, ensuring that technological development does not erode human dignity or ethical boundaries.

From an international perspective, the Pope’s stance is consistent with AI ethics frameworks being promoted in the United States and the European Union. The draft of the EU’s "Artificial Intelligence Act" explicitly regulates the liability and transparency of AI systems and avoids treating AI as a legal entity. Similarly, the United States is advancing "AI liability laws" in several states to ensure that developers are accountable for AI behavior. The Pope’s statement provides religious and ethical support for these regulations, reminding all parties that the pursuit of technological progress must not overlook fundamental human moral and legal standards.

Ultimately, Pope Leo XIV’s warning serves not only as a reminder to the tech industry but also as a call to global society: in an era of rapid AI development, law and ethics must advance in tandem. Treating AI as a legal entity would lead to the diffusion of responsibility and regulatory gaps, potentially resulting in humanity losing its dominant position in moral and legal matters. The Pope urged all nations and institutions to place "humanity" at the forefront of technological innovation, ensuring that artificial intelligence remains subordinate to human values and responsibilities.

(Source: Central News Agency)