
Pope Francis has issued a warning regarding the use of AI. He stressed the importance of global laws to ensure AI is used for good.
The pope was recently the victim of a doctored photo,
In a message for the Church’s World Day of Social Communications, commemorated worldwide on May 12, Francis addressed his worries and ambitions surrounding artificial intelligence (AI).
Regarding new ideas, he urged people to set aside scary forecasts and their paralyzing effects temporarily. On the other hand, much of his three-page letter was quite urgent, warning of the perils of cognitive pollution and how it may distort the truth, spread false stories, and trap people in ideological ruts.
The pope said the problem of misinformation, especially false news, is ongoing and needs our attention. He explained that these days, there’s this thing called “deepfakes,” wherein people make and share photos that look real but are fake.
Like you, Francis said I have been a victim of similar deception.
He was referring to a photo of himself that went viral on social media last year—a photo later shown as phony. The image, posted by someone using an image-producing tool, showed him wearing a long white puffer coat.
Speaking about fake audio messages, Francis mentioned that someone’s voice may be altered to make them sound like they said something they never said.
On Monday, the office of the attorney general of the U.S. state of New Hampshire revealed that they had begun an inquiry into the source of fraudulent robocalls. These automated calls, which purportedly came from President Joe Biden, persuaded people not to vote in Tuesday’s presidential primary.
The simulation technology underlying these programs has uses, but the pope has said that it becomes problematic when it warps our perception of ourselves, others, and reality.
Francis further brought attention to the possible dangers of AI in news reporting, particularly with coverage of conflict. He voiced his worries about the likelihood of misinformation campaigns occurring in tandem with actual conflicts.
Artificial intelligence, he argued, should supplement rather than replace human journalists.