Pope Francis (File photo)
ROME – There is a need for international regulation of artificial intelligence to prevent it from being misused, said Pope Francis in his message for the Day of Social Communications on May 12, which was published Wednesday.
"Starting with the first wave of artificial intelligence, that of social media, we have experienced its ambivalence: its possibilities but also its risks and associated pathologies," said Francis in his message.
"The second level of generative artificial intelligence unquestionably represents a qualitative leap," he added.
"It is important therefore to understand, appreciate and regulate instruments that, in the wrong hands, could lead to disturbing scenarios," said the pope.
Like every other product of human intelligence and skill, algorithms are not neutral, he continued.
Francis therefore called on regulators to "act preventively" to forestall "harmful, discriminatory and socially unjust effects of the use of systems of artificial intelligence and to combat their misuse for the purpose of reducing pluralism, polarizing public opinion or creating forms of groupthink".
"I once more appeal to the international community to work together in order to adopt a binding international treaty that regulates the development and use of artificial intelligence in its many forms," he continued, recalling however that "as in every human context, regulation is, of itself, not sufficient". (ANSA)
