Pope Francis Calls for International Treaty on Ethical Use and Regulation of AI
Summary:
Pope Francis has expressed concern about the potential threats of artificial intelligence (AI), advocating for an international treaty to regulate its development and use to ensure ethical application. He warns of a possible "technological dictatorship" and increased inequality if AI development is driven by greed for wealth or power. The Pope also recognizes the benefits of AI, such as enhanced industrial productivity, simplified transportation, and advanced data management processes. His comments come amid broader global concerns about AI, from dignitaries like U.S. President Joe Biden and tech leaders including Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has undoubtedly been a hot topic over the past twelve months, stirring concern among scientists, technology CEOs, billionaires, and politicians. Recently, the concerns have reached the Vatican, with Pope Francis expressing his anxieties surrounding the issue. In an extensive letter penned on December 8, the Catholic Church leader not only warned about the looming threats AI could pose to mankind, but also shed light on potential actions to mitigate these risks. This comes as the Vatican gets geared up for the World Peace Day set for January 1, 2024.
Pope Francis has suggested the formulation of an international legislative agreement to monitor the evolution and application of AI, to guarantee its ethical use; if not implemented, humanity could spiral into a "technological dictatorship", as he expressed. He implored the international community to unite and agree upon a legal contract to oversee AI technology and its many forms. He cautioned of the peril unregulated AI can pose when greed for wealth or lust for power outweighs humanity's desire for peaceful coexistence.
The Pope elaborated, saying the intrinsic security and esteem of each individual should be the core foundation of technological advancements, providing undeniable standards to assess them. This way, the evolution of digitization can progress in line with justice and contribute towards peace. If technology fails to uphold these guidelines, it would only exacerbate inequities and disputes, and could never be seen as genuine progress, he added.
Pope Francis voiced his concerns over the mushrooming problem of AI-engineered fake news, which could result in increased hesitancy and disbelief towards media.
Taking into account an incident where an AI-created fraudulent image of the Pope, clad in a lavish white puff jacket, made headlines in March, he agreed that AI has its share of advantages; for instance, it enhances industrial productivity, simplifies transportation, creates easy access to markets, and revolutionizes data collection, classification, and verification. However, he cast his doubts over the possibility of a significant number of people being jobless due to AI dominance, and only those with control over AI reaping its benefits.
Pope Francis has been vocal about potential misuses of emergent technologies, advocating the incorporation of both theoretical and practical ethical principles into them. Despite his warnings, he is often perceived as more technologically adept and progressive than previous pontificate incumbents.
The recent comments of Pope Francis arrive amidst global apprehension over the hypothetical risks of AI. Tech connoisseurs, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, have voiced their fears about the swift advancements in AI technology. This led over 2,600 tech magnates and researchers to sign a petition in March 2023, calling for a halt to AI developments, as AI technologies more sophisticated than GPT-4 could impose "severe risks to society and humanity".
Even U.S. President, Joe Biden, has expressed his concerns. His office issued an executive order last October centering on the "safe, secured and trustworthy evolution and use of artificial intelligence" to confront risks inflicted by AI.
Notable filmmaker James Cameron admits having warned about AI threats since directing "The Terminator" nearly four decades ago. The 'weaponization of artificial intelligence' marks the largest risk, he said, drawing parallels between the AI race and a nuclear arms race. If we don't create it, our adversaries will, and that will lead to a probable escalation, he added.
Published At
12/15/2023 8:12:11 AM
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