January 1 marks the World Day of Peace. Each year, the Pope sends a special message with a theme for reflection. The theme for 2024 is “Artificial Intelligence and Peace.”
In the message, Pope Francis is calling for open dialogue about the new advances in the field of AI and their impact on everyday life, politics and the economy. He encourages everyone to be vigilant and to avoid using artificial intelligence at the expense of the most neglected and fragile.
This is a message the Pope has previously touched on. In a meeting with AI developers earlier this year, he strongly urged them to act with humanity in mind.
POPE FRANCIS
I would therefore encourage you, in your deliberations, to make the intrinsic dignity of every man and woman the key criterion in evaluating emerging technologies; these will prove ethically sound to the extent that they help respect that dignity and increase its expression at every level of human life.
The 2024 peace message challenges people to use AI at the service of humanity and in the protection of the Earth. To accomplish this, the Pope calls for ethical reflection in the spheres of education and law.
Pope Francis' message holds two ideas as non-negotiable in the development of AI: the protection of people's dignity and a concern for fraternity among all people. With these conditions, AI can help contribute to promoting justice and peace throughout the world.
KG
