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Pope Francis’ message to the “ai ethics for peace” gathering in Hiroshima
[Hiroshima, 9-10 July 2024]
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Dear friends, I send this greeting to the participants of the “AI Ethics for Peace” Gathering.
Artificial intelligence and peace are two issues of paramount importance, as I had the opportunity to emphasize to the political leaders at the G7:
“It should always be remembered that a machine can, in some ways and by these new methods, produce algorithmic choices.
The machine makes a technical choice between several possibilities based either on well-defined criteria or based on statistical inferences.
Human beings, on the other hand, not only choose, but are capable of deciding in their hearts.
A decision is what we might call a more strategic element of a choice and requires a practical evaluation.
Sometimes, often in the midst of the difficult task of governing, we are called upon to make decisions that have consequences for many people.
In this regard, human reflection has always spoken of wisdom, the phronesis of Greek philosophy and, at least in part, the wisdom of Sacred Scripture.
Faced with the marvels of machines, that seem to know how to make choices on their own, we should be very clear that decision-making, even when we are confronted with its sometimes dramatic and urgent aspects, must always be left to the human person.
We would condemn humanity to a future without hope if we deprived of the ability to make decisions about themselves and their lives, condemning them to depend on the decisions of machines.
We must ensure and safeguard a space for proper human control over the choices made by artificial intelligence programs: human dignity itself depends on it” (Address to the G7, 14 June 2024).
In praising your initiative, I ask you to show the world that we are united in demanding a proactive commitment to protect human dignity in this new era of machines.
The fact that you are meeting in Hiroshima to discuss artificial intelligence and peace is of great symbolic importance.
Amongst the current conflicts affecting our world – including the hatred of war – we are hearing more and more about this technology.
That is why I consider this event in Hiroshima to be of extraordinary importance.
It is crucial that, we come together as brothers and sisters ,to remind the world that “in the face of the tragedy of armed conflict, there is an urgent need to rethink and ultimately ban the development and use of devices such as so-called ‘lethal autonomous weapons’.
This starts with an effective and concrete commitment to introduce ever greater and more appropriate human control.
No machine should ever decide to take the life of a human being” (Address to the G7, 14 June 2024).
Given that the complexity of the issues before us, recognizing the contribution of the cultural richness of peoples and religions to the regulation of artificial intelligence is key to the success of your commitment to the wise management of technological innovation.
I hope that your meeting will bear fruit in terms of fraternity and cooperation,
I pray that each one of us may become an instrument of peace for the world.
