蜜桃交友

By Salvatore Cernuzio

The Pope鈥檚 warnings about Artificial Intelligence in recent years provide the outline for 鈥�,鈥� the 鈥淣ote on the relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence,鈥� that offers the results of a mutual reflection between the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education. The new document is addressed especially to 鈥渢hose entrusted with transmitting the faith,鈥� but also to 鈥渢hose who share the conviction that scientific and technological advances should be directed toward serving the human person and the common good鈥� [5].

In 117 paragraphs, 鈥淎ntiqua et Nova鈥� highlights challenges and opportunities of the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the fields of education, economy, work, health, relationships, and warfare. In the latter sphere, for instance, the document warns of the AI鈥檚 potential to increase 鈥渢he instruments of war well beyond the scope of human oversight and precipitating a destabilizing arms race, with catastrophic consequences for human rights鈥� [99].

Dangers and progress

Specifically, the document lists not only the risks but also the progress associated with AI, which it encourages as 鈥減art of the collaboration of man and woman with God鈥� [2]. However, it does not avoid the concerns that come with all innovations, whose effects are still unpredictable.

Distinguishing between AI and human intelligence

Several paragraphs of the Note are devoted to the distinction between AI and human intelligence. Quoting Pope Francis, the document affirms that 鈥渢he very use of the word 鈥榠ntelligence鈥� in connection to AI 鈥榗an prove misleading鈥欌�� in light of this, AI should not be seen as an artificial form of human intelligence, but as a product of it鈥� [35]. 鈥淟ike any product of human ingenuity, AI can also be directed toward positive or negative ends鈥� [40]. 鈥淎I 鈥榗ould introduce important innovations鈥欌�� [48] but it also risks aggravating situations of discrimination, poverty, 鈥渄igital divide,鈥� and social inequalities [52]. 鈥渢he concentration of the power over mainstream AI applications in the hands of a few powerful companies raises significant ethical concerns,鈥� including 鈥渢he risk that AI could be manipulated for personal or corporate gain or to direct public opinion for the benefit of a specific industry鈥� [53].

War

With reference to war, 鈥淎ntiqua et Nova鈥� stresses that autonomous and lethal weapons systems capable of 鈥渋dentifying and striking targets without direct human intervention are a 鈥渃ause for grave ethical concern鈥� [100]. It notes that Pope Francis has called for their use to be banned since they pose 鈥渁n 鈥榚xistential risk鈥� by having the potential to act in ways that could threaten the survival of entire regions or even of humanity itself鈥� [101]. 鈥淭his danger demands serious attention,鈥� the document says, 鈥渞eflecting the long-standing concern about technologies that grant war 鈥榓n uncontrollable destructive power over great numbers of innocent civilians,鈥� without even sparing children鈥� [101].

Human relations

On human relations, the document notes that AI can lead to 鈥渉armful isolation鈥� [58], that 鈥渁nthropomorphizing AI鈥� poses problems for children's growth [60] and that misrepresenting AI as a person is 鈥渁 grave ethical violation鈥� if this is done 鈥渇or fraudulent purposes.鈥� Similarly, 鈥渦sing AI to deceive in other contexts鈥攕uch as education or in human relationships, including the sphere of sexuality鈥攊s also to be considered immoral and requires careful oversight鈥� [62].

Economy and labour

The same vigilance is called for in the economic-financial sphere. 鈥淎ntiqua et Nova鈥� notes that, especially in the field of labour, 鈥渨hile AI promises to boost productivity鈥� current approaches to the technology can paradoxically deskill workers, subject them to automated surveillance, and relegate them to rigid and repetitive tasks鈥� [67].

Health

The Note also dedicates ample space to the issue of healthcare. Recalling the 鈥渋mmense potential鈥� in various applications in the medical field, it warns that if AI were to replace the doctor-patient relationship, it would risk 鈥渨orsening the loneliness that often accompanies illness鈥� [73]. It also warns that 鈥渢he integration of AI into healthcare also poses the risk of amplifying other existing disparities in access to medical care,鈥� with the risk of 鈥渞einforcing a 鈥榤edicine for the rich鈥� model, where those with financial means benefit from advanced preventative tools and personalized health information while others struggle to access even basic services鈥� [76].

Education

In the field of education, 鈥淎ntiqua et Nova鈥� notes that 鈥淎I presents both opportunities and challenges.鈥� If used prudently, AI can improve access to education and offer 鈥渋mmediate feedback鈥� to students [80]. One problem is that many programmes 鈥渕erely provide answers instead of prompting students to arrive at answers themselves or write text for themselves鈥�; which can lead to a failure to develop critical thinking skills [82]. The note also warns of the 鈥渂iased or fabricated information鈥� and 鈥渇ake news鈥� some programmes can generate [84].

Fake News and Deepfakes

On the subject of fake news, the document warns of the serious risk of AI 鈥済enerating manipulated content and false information鈥� [85], which becomes worse when it is spread with the aim of deceiving or causing harm [87]. 鈥淎ntiqua et Nova鈥� insists that 鈥淭hose who produce and share AI-generated content should always exercise diligence in verifying the truth of what they disseminate and, in all cases, should 鈥榓void the sharing of words and images that are degrading of human beings, that promote hatred and intolerance, that debase the goodness and intimacy of human sexuality or that exploit the weak and vulnerable鈥欌�� [89].

Privacy and control

On privacy and control, the Note points out that some types of data can go so far as to touch 鈥渦pon the individual鈥檚 interiority, perhaps even their conscience鈥� [90], with the danger of everything becoming 鈥渁 kind of spectacle to be examined and inspected鈥� [92]. Digital surveillance 鈥渃an also be misused to exert control over the lives of believers and how they express their faith鈥� [90].

Common home

On the topic of the care of creation, 鈥淎ntiqua et Nova鈥� says, 鈥淎I has many promising applications for improving our relationship with our 鈥榗ommon home鈥欌�� [95]. 鈥淎t the same time, current AI models and the hardware required to support them consume vast amounts of energy and water, significantly contributing to CO2 emissions and straining resources鈥� [96]

The relationship with God

Finally, the Note warns against the risk of humanity becoming 鈥渆nslaved to its own work鈥� [105]. Artificial intelligence, 鈥淎ntiqua et Nova鈥� insists, 鈥渟hould be used only as a tool to complement human intelligence rather than replace its richness鈥� [112].