Vatican's AI Expert Advocates for Ethical Governance Amidst Technology Advancements
Summary:
Friar Paolo Benanti, the Vatican's AI expert and a monk of the Franciscan order, expresses both support for artificial intelligence (AI) and ethical concerns about it. Despite being an advocate for AI, Benanti argues that its development should coexist with ethical-based government regulations. He also highlights his worry about AI's potential to erode societal bonds. Furthermore, he prompts world leaders to create an international treaty regulating AI's ethical use. Despite his concerns, Benanti acknowledges AI's potential in reducing healthcare expenses and expanding medical reach.
Friar Paolo Benanti, a Franciscan order monk and the Vatican's authority on artificial intelligence (AI), holds the technology in high regard as an expression of human intelligence and capacities. However, he emphasizes that AI also poses ethical challenges. An AP report dated January 18 quotes him saying that although he firmly supports AI, he also maintains that its technological advancements must coincide with government regulations anchored in ethical principles. He states, "There is no such thing as a neutral technology because each and every tool can be potentially weaponized."
Benanti, who combines a solid foundation in engineering with a PhD in moral theology, focuses on the ethics of technology. He advises the Pope on technological issues and previously urged caution over AI advancements in a substantial 3,400-word letter dated December 15. Additionally, he serves as a member of the United Nations Advisory Panel on AI and leads an AI commission advising the Italian government.
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His principal ethical worries about AI stem not from its usage but from control over the technology and the appropriate extent of its application in society. "At present, this technology can potentially erode our societal bonds and impair our collective coexistence as a human race. Hence, establishing secure governance is vital — an action that fundamentally depends on ethical principles and the relations between nations domestically and internationally."
In his peace message for 2024, Benanti implored global leaders to establish and uphold an international agreement mandating ethical AI utilization.
According to Benanti, AI could drastically decrease medical costs and amplify the reach of healthcare practitioners. Nevertheless, he warns against using data that does not sufficiently represent a broad demographic.
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, also voiced his opinion that AI holds the potential to create a more equitable global community. Magazine: AI application scenarios in cryptocurrencies: Cryptocurrency-based AI markets and AI financial analyses.
Published At
1/19/2024 5:26:56 PM
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