Sharon Stone joins Nobel laureates in Rome to sign AI disarmament declaration, tells Trump: 'Make your mother proud'
At the Global Nobel Laureates Assembly in Rome, actress Sharon Stone, serving as ambassador of Pope Leo XIV's encyclical 'Magnifica Humanitas', urged world leaders to keep human dignity at the centre of AI governance and signed a declaration calling for a ban on autonomous nuclear weapons systems.
A gathering of Nobel minds
The Global Nobel Laureates Assembly on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear War convened over three days, beginning at Borgo Laudato si' in Castel Gandolfo before moving to Rome's Campidoglio for its final session on 16 July 2026. Organised by the Domus Communis Foundation, the event drew over 200 participants: 30 Nobel laureates, former heads of state and government, 20 leading figures from AI firms including OpenAI, Google DeepMind, AARU and Anthropic, and representatives from 30 universities and research institutions. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri opened the final day in the Aula Giulio Cesare, calling it an honour for Rome to host the signing of a document that seeks to place innovation at the service of humanity.
- Assembly begins at Borgo Laudato si' in Castel Gandolfo, with over 200 participants including 30 Nobel laureates.
- Final day opens in Rome's Campidoglio, Aula Giulio Cesare. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri welcomes attendees.
- Sharon Stone addresses the assembly as ambassador of the encyclical 'Magnifica Humanitas' and signs the Rome Declaration.
The Rome Declaration
The centrepiece of the assembly was the signing of the "Dichiarazione di Roma per una Pace Disarmata e Disarmante nell'era dell'Intelligenza artificiale, delle armi nucleari e autonome, dei nuovi protocolli digitali e dei modelli emergenti di sviluppo digitale". The text, inspired by Pope Leo XIV's encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas", commits signatories to prevent AI from autonomously authorising or activating nuclear weapons and to promote international governance of artificial intelligence. Cardinal vicar Baldo Reina explained that disarmament means not only reducing arsenals but also disarming minds, languages, economies and international relations. Mayor Gualtieri, who signed the document, stressed the need for a treaty that prohibits irresponsible integration of AI into nuclear command, control and launch systems, preserving effective human oversight.
Sharon Stone's plea
Sharon Stone attended as ambassador of the encyclical and addressed the assembly with a blend of moral urgency and maternal directness. She distilled her reflections from the week's discussions into a simple call for unity in pursuing the common good and respect for the rule of law.
Human dignity is not an algorithm. As the capabilities of machines expand, the ethical, moral and intellectual responsibilities of those who create them must grow as well.
She urged the audience not to lose the innocence from which kindness, generosity and decency spring, and closed with the Franciscan greeting "Pace e bene" (peace and good).
A message for Trump
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines, Stone was asked what advice she would give US President Donald Trump. She replied that nobody needs her opinion to know right from wrong, then framed her answer as a mother of three sons.
Behave in a way that your mother would be proud of you.
She added that adults should model the same behaviour they demand of children, and that truth triumphs alone while lies require complicity.
A personal reflection
In interviews with Italian media, Stone also spoke about her 2001 stroke, describing the near-death experience as eye-opening and a lesson in staying present. She said she is not reinventing herself but growing and learning, and named the comedy "The Muse" rather than "Basic Instinct" as the film that best represents her. The assembly closed with her Italian salutation and a renewed call for leaders to govern technology with ethics and decency.
