Pope's Advice to Social Media Influencers: Addressing Importance of Maintaining Human Dignity Amidst AI Advancements - AI development should respect human dignity, urges the Pope
Pope Leo XIV, who has been in office since May, has taken a proactive stance on the issue of Artificial Intelligence (AI), consistently warning young people about its potential dangers. This warning comes as part of the Catholic World Youth Day in Rome, an event that takes place within the framework of the Holy Year, which is called by the Catholic Church every 25 years.
The two-day gathering, happening in Rome, is not just a religious event but a call to action for the responsible development and use of AI. Pope Leo XIV has emphasized the need to protect the ability to listen and speak, and has called for the establishment of coordinated global and local ethical governance frameworks on AI. This is to ensure that AI serves humanity, upholds human dignity and fundamental freedoms, and does not replace or diminish the human person.
The Vatican has invited digital missionaries and Catholic influencers from around the world to this event. While the specific roles of these digital missionaries and influencers are not yet detailed, their involvement aligns with the Church’s tradition of engaging societal transformations. They are implicitly involved by promoting the ethical use of AI, building dialogue and fraternity in digital spaces, and upholding the human-centered values that the Pope advocates for amid this technological revolution.
In addition, the event aims to expand the Catholic Church's online presence, recognising the importance of digital platforms in today's world. This initiative underscores the Church's commitment to engaging with modern technology in a responsible and ethical manner.
This is the first such event in the history of the Catholic Church, reflecting the importance that Pope Leo XIV places on the issue of AI and its impact on humanity. The event serves as a reminder that AI, like any powerful technology, must be guided by ethical principles and a deep respect for human dignity.
- Despite the Commission not yet adopting a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from carcinogens, Pope Leo XIV's call to action for the responsible development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) during the Catholic World Youth Day in Rome, emphasizes the need to safeguard not just physical safety, but also human dignity and ethical governance in the era of AI.
- As the Catholic Church continues to recognize the importance of digital platforms in today's world, it will be interesting to see if they also advocate for the regulation of AI technologies, much like their proactive stance on chemical carcinogens in the workplace.
