Pope Leo XIV has renewed calls for more in-depth consideration of the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on humanity, of the concern expressed for the development and well-being of children and young people.
The recently installed pontiff made his comments on Saturday, when he welcomed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and parliamentary delegations of 68 other nations at the Vatican for the second annual Rome conference on artificial intelligence.
“In particular, it should not be forgotten that artificial intelligence works as a tool for the good of human beings, not to decrease them or even to replace them,” said Leo, who added that the “static memory” of AI could not correspond to the “creative and dynamic” power of human memory.
“Our personal life has a greater value than any algorithm, and social relationships require development spaces that transcend limited models from afar that any soulless machine can pre-show,” he told participants.
The Pope warns that AI is a threat to the way humans deal with reality
Although the pontiff has recognized the indisputable advantages of such computer offers, he nevertheless warned the threat she poses on the way we understand the life and the world around us.
“AI, in particular generating AI, has opened new horizons at many different levels, including improving research in health care and scientific discovery; but also raises disturbing questions about its possible repercussions on the opening of humanity to truth and beauty, on our distinctive capacity to grasp and treat reality.”
Leo, who has repeatedly addressed the question of AI and its impact on society since the Pope became Pope in May, urged the “serious reflection” on the “intrinsically ethical dimension of AI”, noting that respect for the uniqueness of human existence was an essential element of any discussion on its use and its regulation.
“We all, I am sure, we are concerned about children and young people, and the possible consequences of using AI on their intellectual and neurological development,” he said.
“Our young people must be helped and not hampered, in their journey to maturity and real responsibility,” he added, calling young people “our hope for the future”.
“ True meaning of life ” against “data availability”
For all the praises that the supporters of the AI sing, affirming, among other things, that it allows more access to information and that if the computers are allowed to carry out the tasks of the workers, the former workers will then be able to pursue other more fulfilling creative tasks, Leo has warned against the dangers of access to “access to data” for real intelligence. “Authentic wisdom,” he said, “has more to do with the recognition of the true sense of life than with the availability of data”.
The pontiff also underlined the potential of the AI to “abuse a selfish gain at the expense of others, or worse, to foment conflicts and aggression”.
“The well-being of society,” said Leo, “depends on their [young people] Have the possibility of developing their gifts and capacities given by God, and meeting the requirements of the time and the needs of others with a free and generous spirit.
“This implies taking into account the well-being of the human person not only materially, but also intellectually and spiritually. This means protecting the inviolable dignity of each human person and respecting cultural and spiritual riches and the diversity of peoples of the world”, according to Leon.
AI, the Catholic Church and “the future of our human family”
Leo said the Catholic Church wanted to contribute to a peaceful and thoughtful public discussion on the advent of AI “and the future of our human family”.
A final concern raised by the pontiff approached the strains that it has on relations between young people and the elderly, pointing towards what he called “the necessary intergenerational learning which will allow young people to integrate the truth into their moral and spiritual life, thus informing their mature decisions and opening the way to a world of greater solidarity and their unity.”
Leo ended up reminding legislators the need to protect “healthy, fair and healthy lifestyles, in particular for the good of the young generations”, “admiring”, “all the tasks you are not easy, but it is vital importance”.
Edited by Sean Sinico
