CV NEWS FEED // The Vatican has released Pope Francis’ World Peace Day message, “Artificial Intelligence and Peace.”
The Catholic Church celebrates the World Day of Peace annually on January 1st. Usually, the Pontiff releases his message in advance so the faithful can meditate on it beforehand. The first World Day of Peace was celebrated on January 1, 1968.
Addressing “God’s People, the various nations, heads of state and government, the leaders of different religions and civil society,” the Holy Father focused on the “promise and risk” of artificial intelligence for promoting peace and human dignity.
“We need to remember that scientific research and technological innovations are not disembodied and ‘neutral’, but subject to cultural influences,” said Francis. As products of human creation, technology is “conditioned personal, social, and cultural values” of the given age and its objectives.
Francis condemned the use of artificial intelligence powered weapons systems, which he called “a cause for grave ethical concern.”
He further emphasized the importance of “consistent human oversight of weapon systems,” posing the question of what might happen, should sophisticated autonomous weapons end up in the wrong hands.
He continued:
The world has no need of new technologies that contribute to the unjust development of commerce and the weapons trade and consequently end up promoting the folly of war.
By so doing, not only intelligence but the human heart itself would risk becoming ever more “artificial”. The most advanced technological applications should not be employed to facilitate the violent resolution of conflicts, but rather to pave the way for peace.
While artificial intelligence promises liberation from certain menial tasks, the Pope noted, “artificial intelligence ought to serve our best human potential and our highest aspirations, not compete with them.”
Francis warned against the use of artificial intelligence “in campaigns of disinformation that spread false news and lead to a growing distrust of the communications media,” noting that while AI has the capacity to produce “semantically coherent texts […] there is no guarantee of their reliability.”
He also raised the concern that misuse of AI could lead to “discrimination, interference in elections, the rise of a surveillance society, digital exclusion and the exacerbation of an individualism increasingly disconnected from society.” All of which, he said, “risk fueling conflicts and hindering peace.”
Francis wrote at the conclusion of the message:
It is my prayer at the start of the New Year, that the rapid development of forms of artificial intelligence will not increase cases of inequality and injustice all too present in today’s world, but will help put an end to wars and conflicts, and alleviate many forms of suffering that afflict our human family.
“May Christian believers, […] work together in harmony […] and confront the challenges posed by the digital revolution and thus hand on to future generations a world of greater solidarity, justice and peace.”
