Pope’s Communications Day message: AI can never replace wisdom of human heart
In his message for the 58th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Francis focuses on A.I.
Pope Francis has released his message for the 2024 World Day of Social Communications, focusing on the theme: “Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart: Towards a Fully Human Communication”.
Celebrated on 12 May, this year’s theme is closely linked to the Pope’s message for the World Day of Peace, which was devoted to the development of systems of artificial intelligence (AI).
AI is “radically affecting the world of information and communication, and through it, certain foundations of life in society,” says the Pope in his Communications Day message, adding that “these changes affect everyone”.
So the Pope asks, “how can we remain fully human and guide this cultural transformation to serve a good purpose?” Starting with the heart.
In answering this question, the Holy Father notes that “at this time in history, which risks becoming rich in technology and poor in humanity, our reflections must begin with the human heart.‘‘
“Wisdom of the heart, then, is the virtue that enables us to integrate the whole and its parts, our decisions and their consequences, our nobility and our vulnerability, our past and our future, our individuality and our membership within a larger community,‘‘ says the Pope.
“Depending on the inclination of the heart, everything within our reach becomes either an opportunity or a threat,” warns the Pope.
”Artificial Intelligence must be regulated” asserts Pope Francis, acknowledging that, as in every human context, “regulation is, of itself, not sufficient.”
Pope Francis then invites everyone to “grow together, in humanity and as humanity,” recalling that we are all challenged to make a qualitative leap in order to become “a complex, multiethnic, pluralistic, multireligious, and multicultural society.”
With this in mind, Pope Francis refers to the many reporters who have been injured or killed in the line of duty as they attempted to show the world what they themselves had seen.
Bringing his message for World Communications Day to a close, Pope Francis recalls that “it is up to us to decide whether we will become fodder for algorithms or will nourish our hearts with that freedom without which we cannot grow in wisdom.”
Pope Francis then prays that humanity may never lose its bearings, and that the wisdom that was present before all modern technology may return to us.
Wisdom, says the Pope, can help us “to put systems of artificial intelligence at the service of a fully human communication.”
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Sources
- Pope’s Message: Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart: Towards a Fully Human Communication
- Vatican News