Introduction to AI and Human Dignity
The Pope has been speaking out about the importance of using artificial intelligence (AI) in ways that respect human dignity. In January, Pope Francis said, "Like any product of human creativity, AI can be directed toward positive or negative ends. When used in ways that respect human dignity and promote the well-being of individuals and communities, it can contribute positively to the human vocation. Yet, as in all areas where humans are called to make decisions, the shadow of evil also looms here. Where human freedom allows for the possibility of choosing what is wrong, the moral evaluation of this technology will need to take into account how it is directed and used."
History Repeats with New Technology
Pope Francis’ call for respecting human dignity in the face of AI is not a new concept. In fact, the Catholic Church has a history of addressing the impact of technological advancements on society. The earlier Pope Leo XIII directly confronted the labor upheaval of the Industrial Revolution in his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. At the time, factory conditions had created severe human costs, including 16-hour days, child labor, and wages that barely sustained life.
The Industrial Revolution and Labor Unrest
The Industrial Revolution generated unprecedented wealth and productive capacity, but it came with severe human costs. Workers faced dangerous machinery, long working hours, and low wages. The Catholic Church rejected both unchecked capitalism and socialism, instead proposing Catholic social doctrine that defended workers’ rights to form unions, earn living wages, and rest on Sundays. This doctrine shaped modern Catholic social teaching and influenced labor movements worldwide, establishing the church as an advocate for workers caught between industrial capital and revolutionary socialism.
The Church’s Response to AI
Just as mechanization disrupted traditional labor in the 1890s, artificial intelligence now potentially threatens employment patterns and human dignity in ways that demand similar moral leadership from the church. Pope Leo XIV believes that the Church must offer guidance on the use of AI to defend human dignity, justice, and labor. In his formal address, he said, "In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice, and labor."
Conclusion
The Catholic Church has a long history of addressing the impact of technological advancements on society. As AI continues to shape our world, the Church is calling for its use to be guided by respect for human dignity and the promotion of the well-being of individuals and communities. By drawing on its past experiences and teachings, the Church aims to provide moral leadership on the use of AI and ensure that it is used for the greater good.
FAQs
- Q: What is the Catholic Church’s stance on artificial intelligence?
A: The Church believes that AI can be used for positive or negative ends and that its use should be guided by respect for human dignity and the promotion of the well-being of individuals and communities. - Q: How does the Church’s response to AI relate to its past teachings?
A: The Church’s response to AI is guided by its past experiences and teachings, particularly its response to the Industrial Revolution and the labor unrest that followed. - Q: What does the Church propose as a solution to the challenges posed by AI?
A: The Church proposes that its social teaching be used to guide the development and use of AI, with a focus on defending human dignity, justice, and labor.
