Over the past year, the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) has drawn widespread attention and concern from various sectors, including scientists, tech CEOs, billionaires, and lawmakers. Recently, this concern has reached a notable figure in the religious sphere: Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church.
In a detailed letter spanning 3,412 words, dated Dec. 8, Pope Francis expressed his apprehensions about the potential risks AI poses to humanity. This letter was released in anticipation of the World Day of Peace, which the Roman Catholic Church observes on Jan. 1, 2024.
Pope Francis is advocating for an international treaty to regulate AI, emphasizing the need for its ethical development and application. He warned of the dangers of a “technological dictatorship” if AI is driven by profit motives or power lust, overshadowing the desire for free and peaceful existence. He stressed that technologies exacerbating inequalities and conflicts do not represent true progress. The Pope also highlighted the issue of AI-generated fake news, which he sees as a significant problem contributing to increasing distrust in media.
The Pope himself was a victim of AI misuse when a digitally altered image showing him in a luxury white puffer jacket went viral in March. Despite these concerns, Pope Francis acknowledged the positive aspects of AI, such as its role in enhancing manufacturing efficiency, transportation, market accessibility, and data management.
However, he expressed worry that AI might disproportionately benefit those in control while leaving many unemployed and struggling for livelihood:
“There is the substantial risk of disproportionate benefit for the few at the price of the impoverishment of many.”
Pope Francis has consistently cautioned against the misuse of emerging technologies, advocating for the integration of moral principles in their development. He is often regarded as more technologically progressive than his predecessors.
His recent comments align with a global chorus of concerns over AI. High-profile tech figures like Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak have also raised alarms about the rapid advancement of AI. In March 2023, they, along with over 2,600 other tech leaders and researchers, signed a petition calling for a pause in AI development, citing risks that AI more advanced than GPT-4 could pose significant societal and humanitarian threats.
U.S. President Joe Biden has also shown concern, with his administration issuing an executive order in late October on the “safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of artificial intelligence” to mitigate AI-related risks.
Even figures from the entertainment industry, such as Canadian filmmaker James Cameron, have voiced their worries. Cameron, known for directing “The Terminator” nearly 40 years ago, reportedly said in July that he had long warned about the dangers of AI, particularly its potential weaponization, likening it to a nuclear arms race.
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