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<\/p>\nOver the past year, there\u2019s been no shortage of scientists, tech CEOs, billionaires and lawmakers sounding the alarm over artificial intelligence \u2014 and now, even the Pope wants to talk about it too. <\/p>\n
In a hefty 3,412-word letter dated Dec. 8, Pope Francis \u2014 the head of the Catholic Church \u2014 warned of the potential dangers of AI to humanity and what needs to be done to control it. The letter came as the Roman Catholic Church prepares to celebrate World Day of Peace on Jan. 1, 2024.<\/p>\n
Pope Francis wants to see an international treaty to regulate AI to ensure it is developed and used ethically \u2014 otherwise, we risk falling into the spiral of a \u201ctechnological dictatorship.\u201d<\/p>\n
The threat of AI arises when developers have a \u201cdesire for profit or thirst for power\u201d that overpowers one\u2019s wish to exist freely and peacefully, the Pope explained. <\/p>\n
Technologies that fail to do this \u201caggravate inequalities and conflicts\u201d and, therefore can never count as true progress, he added.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Onxy6LWlcIE<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the emergence of AI-generated fake news is a \u201cserious problem,\u201d added the Pope, which could lead to growing mistrust in the media.<\/p>\n
The Pope was recently a victim of generative AI when a fake image surfaced of him wearing a luxury white puffer jacket went viral in March.<\/p>\n
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Pope Francis, however, also acknowledged the benefits of AI in enabling more efficient manufacturing, easier transport and more ready markets, as well as a revolution in processes of accumulating, organizing and confirming data.<\/p>\n
But he\u2019s also concerned that AI will benefit those controlling it and leave a large portion of the population without employment to pay for a living:<\/p>\n
Pope Francis has long warned about the misuse of emerging technologies, stating that “both theoretical and practical moral principles” need to be embedded into them. He is, however, often seen as more tech-savvy and forward-looking than his predecessors.<\/p>\n
Pope Francis\u2019 recent remarks come after a year of outcry from all corners of the world over the potential dangers of AI. <\/p>\n
Tech leaders such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak have expressed concern about how rapidly AI is advancing. It prompted them and more than 2,600 tech leaders and researchers to sign a petition to \u201cpause\u201d AI developments in March 2023, sharing concerns that AI more advanced than GPT-4 can pose \u201cprofound risks to society and humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n
U.S. President Joe Biden has also expressed concerns. His administration released an executive order on the \u201csafe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of artificial intelligence\u201d in late October to address risks posed by AI.<\/p>\n