Pope Francis Calls for Ethical AI Addresses G7 Summit in Historic Appearance

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In a landmark moment, Pope Francis made history as the first pontiff to address a G7 summit, bringing a powerful moral message about the urgent need for ethical development and use of artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at the summit in Bari, Italy, Pope Francis challenged the world’s leading democracies to prioritize human dignity in the burgeoning field of AI, cautioning that the technology's unchecked growth could reduce human interactions to mere algorithms.

 

Invited by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Francis's address marked a unique convergence of spiritual and political leadership. The pope urged G7 leaders to ensure that AI development remains human-centric, emphasizing that decisions regarding the use of AI, especially in the context of weapons, must always be made by humans, not machines. “We would condemn humanity to a future without hope if we took away people’s ability to make decisions about themselves and their lives, by dooming them to depend on the choices of machines,” he declared. “We need to ensure and safeguard a space for proper human control over the choices made by artificial intelligence programs: Human dignity itself depends on it.”

 

 

The significance of Francis's participation was not lost on the assembled leaders. The room fell silent as he entered, a testament to his unique moral authority. John Kirton, director of the G7 Research Group, reflected on the impact of such star power at previous summits, comparing it to the 2005 Gleneagles summit, which led to substantial debt relief for the world's poorest countries following a massive public campaign. This year, no similar popular pressure accompanied the G7, but Francis leveraged his moral clout to renew calls for AI safeguards, highlighting the risks to peace and societal integrity if human ethics are sidelined. “To speak of technology is to speak of what it means to be human and thus of our singular status as beings who possess both freedom and responsibility,” he said. “This means speaking about ethics.”

 

 

The pope's focus on AI comes amid a global boom in generative AI technologies, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which have impressed but also raised significant safety and ethical concerns. Francis has previously advocated for an international treaty to ensure AI is developed and used ethically, emphasizing that technology devoid of human values like compassion and morality is perilous. While he did not reiterate this call explicitly during his G7 address, his message was clear: political leaders must take the initiative in regulating AI, ensuring it benefits humanity rather than undermines it. He also called for a ban on lethal autonomous weapons, or "killer robots," stating, “No machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being.”

 

Pope Francis's speech comes at a crucial time as nations grapple with AI’s rapid development and its societal implications. Japan, the previous G7 president, initiated the Hiroshima AI process to establish guiding principles and a code of conduct for AI developers. Following up, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida introduced a global framework for regulating generative AI. The European Union's upcoming AI Act aims to serve as a model for global AI regulation, imposing restrictions based on the risk levels posed by AI products and services. In the United States, President Joe Biden has issued an executive order on AI safeguards and is pushing for further legislation. States like California and Colorado are also attempting to pass their own AI regulations. Both American and European antitrust bodies are investigating major AI companies to prevent monopolistic practices.

 

The United Kingdom spearheaded a global dialogue on mitigating AI’s most extreme risks with a summit last fall, leading to commitments from companies to develop AI responsibly. This dialogue continued in Seoul and will proceed with a follow-up meeting in France early next year. The United Nations has also made strides, passing its first resolution on AI.

 

Pope Francis's day at the summit was filled with bilateral meetings, including discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders from Algeria, Brazil, India, Kenya, and Turkey. He also met with G7 leaders, including President Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

 

Pope Francis's historic address at the G7 summit underscores the intersection of ethical considerations and technological advancements. His call to action serves as a powerful reminder of the need to place human dignity at the forefront of AI development, urging political leaders to create a framework that ensures AI contributes positively to society. As the world continues to navigate the complex landscape of AI, the pope's message highlights the essential role of ethics in shaping a future where technology serves humanity's best interests.

 

 

Credit: Time 2024-06-17

 

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[Purdey]

I doubt he has much mortal authority as head of a church infamous for pedophile priests.

Better to start with an atheist's idea called the three laws of robotics. Just exchange the word robot for AI.

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3.A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

On 6/4/2024 at 4:36 AM, stoner said:

 

(This is the problem when you can't delete a post)

[Srikcir]

12 hours ago, Social Media said:

Pope Francis challenged the world’s leading democracies

Well, that lets Thailand off the hook.