The G7, Pope Leo XIV, Trump And The Battle To Govern Artificial Intelligence
The G7, Pope Leo XIV, Trump And The Battle To Govern Artificial Intelligence
Publish Date: 2026-06-22 09:15:00
Source Domain: www.forbes.com
Leaders at the 2026 G7 Summit in Évian, France, discuss global priorities as artificial intelligence takes center stage in international diplomacy. Once viewed primarily as a technological innovation, AI is increasingly shaping national security, economic competitiveness and global governance.
AFP via Getty Images
When world leaders gathered in Évian, France, for the 2026 G7 Summit, artificial intelligence stood alongside trade, national security and geopolitics as one of the defining issues on the agenda. Equally telling was the presence of leaders from some of the world’s most influential AI companies. Artificial intelligence is no longer simply a technological breakthrough or a commercial opportunity. It has become a strategic issue worthy of discussion at the highest levels of international diplomacy.
Just weeks earlier, Pope Leo XIV had elevated artificial intelligence as one of the defining moral challenges of our generation, arguing that technological progress must never come at the expense of human dignity or moral responsibility. Across the Atlantic, the Trump administration has pursued a markedly different approach, issuing executive actions designed to accelerate American leadership in artificial intelligence by removing barriers to innovation and strengthening the nation’s competitive position.
Taken together, these developments reveal something much larger. The battle to govern artificial intelligence has already begun. Unlike previous technological revolutions, however, this battle is not being fought solely among governments. For perhaps the first time in modern history, a transformative technology is being shaped simultaneously by political leaders, technology companies, religious institutions, national security strategists and geopolitical rivals. Each brings a different source of authority, expertise and influence, yet none possesses sufficient legitimacy or capability to govern artificial intelligence alone.
That reality should matter to every…
