Peter Thiel accused Pope Leo XIV of serving China’s interests after the Pope called for tighter global regulation of artificial intelligence.

Speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, Thiel told the audience that the Pope’s recently issued encyclical urging heavy oversight—and “disarming” AI—would benefit Beijing by “tapping the brakes” on AI development. Thiel argued that this kind of stance is dangerous because it risks leaving the US behind in a competitive effort to build more advanced AI, according to reporting on his remarks.

The claim landed with laughter at the event, and it builds on Thiel’s broader pattern of taking a hard line against AI regulation critics. Separate reporting also notes that Thiel has previously framed AI opponents in extreme terms.