Sixty-Eighth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO

Mr. Chair,

At the outset, my Delegation would like to congratulate Mr. Daren Tang on his re-election as Director General and to reiterate its appreciation for the work of WIPO in encouraging innovation and creativity, and in contributing to the advancement of the development of all countries.

In the contemporary era, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a primary catalyst of innovation. However, technological progress must remain firmly grounded in a human-centered vision. In his Encyclical Letter Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV writes that AI “merely imitates certain functions of human intelligence. […] So-called artificial intelligences do not undergo experiences, do not possess a body, do not feel joy or pain, do not mature through relationships and do not know from within what love, work, friendship or responsibility mean. Nor do they have a moral conscience.”[1] Therefore, to ensure that AI-driven innovation respects and promotes human dignity, it is essential that those who design, regulate, and deploy it adhere to this principle.

The intellectual property (IP) system, exists to serve the common good for all peoples, especially in the time of AI. The human person, with his inherent God-given dignity and endowed with conscience and creativity, must remain at the core of every consideration and decision touching on IP.

In this regard, Pope Leo XIV recalled that “among the goods that are universally intended for everyone, we must also include new forms of property, such as patents […]. [W]hen these goods remain concentrated in the hands of a few, without adequate forms of sharing and access, a new imbalance is created that contradicts the universal destination of goods.”[2]

Thank you.