Pope’s Concerns Over AI
This Tuesday, Pope Francis called for a reflection on the possible dangers that could be caused by artificial intelligence. According to Reuters, the beloved Pope acknowledges “disruptive possibilities and ambivalent effects” that could come to fruition if we don’t get this emerging technology under control. The Pope’s stern warning about a possible AI disaster was delivered in advance of the next World Day of Peace, which the Catholic Church marks on New Year’s Day. As it is common to release the announcement well in advance, we have the opportunity to reflect in the upcoming months and focus on ethical concerns over AI.
The statement also recalls “the need to be vigilant and to work so that a logic of violence and discrimination does not take root in the production and use of such devices, at the expense of the most fragile and excluded.”
Still, it’s no surprise that the theme of next year’s World Day of Peace revolves around artificial intelligence. In March this year, the People met with tech sector representatives at the Vatican to discuss AI development’s ethical implications. Before that, he also spoke at a Vatican conference on AI ethics in front of representatives from Microsoft, IBM, and the Jewish and Muslim communities. At the end of the said event, the representatives of these communities signed a statement urging AI researchers to collaborate with ethicists and religious leaders to ensure an ethical approach to the use of AI.
