The Pope on AI
The New AI Project | University of Notre Dame
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In an effort to keep up with the technology, the Vatican has published several documents that explore the ethics of artificial intelligence. (3m read).
Taming AI, a column by Clare Hill.
While many people feel a background sense of unease about AI are trying to figure out what to do about it, the Pope has been hard at work clarifying its underlying moral implications. ?When many powerful leaders in artificial intelligence met in Paris this month for the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, Pope Francis called on them to “ensure human beings maintain adequate control of AI’s decision-making capabilities and to examine AI’s effects on human relationships.” In that message, the Pope referenced his most recent Encyclical, which was titled “Dilexit Nos” (“He Loved Us”). In this Encyclical, Pope Francis reminds the reader that there are meaningful aspects of the human experience that an algorithm will never fully capture, such as the feeling of helping your grandmother press the edges of a pie crust with a fork. With more than 1.3 billion Catholics spread worldwide, and many millions more people across the globe looking for spiritual guidance from Pope Francis, his words matter uniquely.
Similar concepts to those in Dilexit Nos shone through in the Vatican’s recent longer-form publication about AI: “Antiqua Et Nova: Note on the Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence.” Published as a joint reflection from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the document argues for AI use that complements human intelligence instead of attempting to replace it. Antiqua Et Nova encourages scientific and technological advancement while simultaneously acknowledging the limits of AI. After a broad overview of this delicate balance, the authors dive into specific concerns, including AI and society, human relationships, labor, healthcare, education, deepfakes, privacy, the environment, warfare, and our relationship with God. In a final call to positive action, the document focuses on “True Wisdom” in an optimistic way:
?“The ‘wisdom of the heart’ can illuminate and guide the human-centered use of this technology to help promote the common good, care for our “common home,” advance the search for the truth, foster integral human development, favor human solidarity and fraternity, and lead humanity to its ultimate goal: happiness and full communion with God.”
These topics are not just fluffy talking points for the Pope, but deeply held beliefs that could have real impacts. Documents such as Antiqua Et Nova help Christians and other spiritual people around the world interpret AI in a more digestible and personal way. Ethical guidelines such as these from the Vatican could be the basis on which leaders create policies that regulate artificial intelligence. From where do you draw your views on the promises and dangers of artificial intelligence? ~
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The New AI Project | University of Notre Dame
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Advisor: John Behrens