Pope Francis Calls For Ethical AI

Pope Francis has officially called for the ethical and responsible use of technology, including AI, during a speech at the ‘Minerva Dialogues,’ an annual gathering of experts in science, technology, and culture organised by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Education and Culture. The Pope acknowledged the benefits of AI when used for the common good, but also warned against unethical or irresponsible use.

This call for ethical and responsible use of AI comes a week after images of the Pope, looking like a boss in a sleek white puffer coat, fooled many people. The images created using AI tool Midjourney , led some news outlets to describe it as “one of the first instances of wide-scale misinformation stemming from artificial intelligence.” The photos caused a stir online shortly after being posted on Twitter, according to data from Google Trends .

The assembly brings together individuals from a diverse range of fields, including scientists, engineers, business leaders, lawyers, theologians, and ethicists, to examine the social and cultural impact of digital technologies, with a focus on AI. “From this perspective,” Pope Francis said, “I am convinced that the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning has the potential to contribute in a positive way to the future of humanity.”

However, the Pope emphasised the importance of a “constant and consistent commitment” by those developing these technologies to act ethically and responsibly. He praised the consensus on the need for “development processes” to respect values such as inclusion, transparency, security, equity, privacy, and reliability. He also welcomed efforts by international organisations to regulate these technologies, so that they promote “genuine progress” and contribute to “a better world and an integrally higher quality of life.”