Pope Francis in his message to leaders participating in the Feb. 10–11 Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris reiterated his stance that technological innovations must ultimately serve and defend humanity.

The Holy Father quoted French philosopher Jacques Maritain in his Feb. 11 message, saying: “Love is worth more than intelligence” and expressing his concern that an overemphasis on data and algorithms can dangerously manipulate the truth and undermine human creativity. 

“In my most recent encyclical letter Dilexit Nos, I distinguished between the operation of algorithms and the power of the ‘heart,’” the pope shared. 

“I ask all those attending the Paris summit not to forget that only the human ‘heart’ can reveal the meaning of our existence.”

The two-day summit, co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in France’s Grand Palais, brought together hundreds of government officials, business executives, scientists, and artists to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on global governance and the economy.

Vatican Secretary for the Relations with States Archbishop Paul Gallagher was a guest speaker at the international meeting’s Feb. 10 discussion panel on the topic “Harnessing AI for the Future of Work.”   

In his message, the pope asked summit participants to have the “courage and determination” to defend humanity through their work. 

He stressed that global leaders should not use AI to impose “uniform anthropological, socioeconomic, and cultural models” that reduce reality to “numbers” and “predetermined categories.”

Describing AI as “a powerful tool” that can find innovative solutions to promote environmental sustainability, the Holy Father also warned of its potential to undermine human relationships and further disadvantage people living in developing nations.

“In this regard, I trust that the Paris summit will work for the creation of a platform of public interest on artificial intelligence,” the pope said, “so that every nation can find in artificial intelligence an instrument for its development and its fight against poverty but also for the protection of its local cultures and languages.”

The pope concluded his message by repeating his call for a person-centered approach to the use of AI, saying: “Our ultimate challenge will always remain mankind. May we never lose sight of this!”

On Jan. 28, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education released Antiqua et Nova, a note outlining the Church’s position on the relationship between AI and human intelligence.

This article was originally published on Catholic News Agency. 

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