Dear Commons Community,
Pope Leo XIV has urged for “responsibility and discernment” over the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) during his first press briefing with the media since being elected as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Leo acknowledged that A.I. has “immense potential” for the good of humanity, but echoed his predecessor, Pope Francis, as he warned it could also pose “new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor.”
Former Pope Francis had become increasingly vocal about his concerns over A.I. and its potential threat to humanity during his time as head of the church.
In April, shortly before his passing, Francis urged people to “to look less at screens and look each other in the eyes more.”
“Let us pray that the use of the new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crises of our times,” he added.
Pope Leo told his first press briefing, “Communication is not only the transmission of information, but it is also the creation of a culture, of human and digital environments that become spaces for dialogue and discussion. In looking at how technology is developing, this mission becomes ever more necessary. I am thinking in particular of artificial intelligence, with its immense potential, which nevertheless requires responsibility and discernment in order to ensure that it can be used for the good of all, so that it can benefit all of humanity. This responsibility concerns everyone in proportion to his or her age and role in society.”
Leo, who was elected as the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, told the gathered press on Monday that A.I. was one of the great challenges of this era.
The pope, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, said that the responsibility for using artificial intelligence safely, “concerns everyone in proportion to his or her age and role in society.”
Leo also referenced the issue in his remarks Saturday, where he said he identified with his predecessor Francis, and spoke of another industrial revolution through A.I.
“In our own day, the church offers everyone the treasury of its social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor,” he said.
“It has been clearly seen in the example of so many of my predecessors, and most recently by Pope Francis himself, with his example of complete dedication to service and to sober simplicity of life, his abandonment to God throughout his ministry and his serene trust at the moment of his return to the Father’s house. Let us take up this precious legacy and continue on the journey, inspired by the same hope that is born of faith,” Leo said.
Interesting that Pope Leo IV should make AI one of the first issues he comments on.
Tony
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