Cisco Systems joins Vatican pledge to ensure ethical use and development of AI

Pope Francis has called for an international treaty to ensure AI is developed and used ethically (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

Tech giant Cisco Systems has joined Microsoft and IBM in signing on to a Vatican-sponsored pledge to ensure artificial intelligence is developed and used ethically and to benefit the common good.

Cisco Systems chief executive Chuck Robbins signed the document, known as the Rome Call, and met privately with Pope Francis, the Vatican said.