Pope Francis At The Forefront Of AI Ethics: A Historic G7 Summit Participation

Last year, an image of Pope Francis wearing a stylish white puffer jacket went viral, sparking a whirlwind of comments about his fashion sense and even questions about whether he had a stylist. However, the image was a “deep fake” created using artificial intelligence (AI).

This week, Pope Francis is set to make a historic intervention in the AI debate at the G7 summit in southern Italy's Puglia region. On Friday, Francis will become the first pope to participate in the summit of leaders from the world’s most advanced economies, joining a session dedicated to AI. Among the attendees is US President Joe Biden, a Catholic who shares a warm relationship with Francis.

At 87, the pontiff is determined to use his office's influence to ensure AI development benefits humanity and doesn't turn into a 21st-century Frankenstein's monster. For Pope Francis, who trained as a chemist in his youth, advancements in science and technology are welcome, as he believes AI presents exciting new opportunities. However, he also foresees significant risks.

In a message released late last year, Francis warned of a potential “technological dictatorship” if adequate regulations are not implemented, highlighting threats posed by AI-controlled weapons systems and the dangers of technology being misused for surveillance and election interference. The pope believes AI can improve the world only if it serves the “common good” and does not exacerbate inequalities.

The Vatican has been advocating for an ethical framework for AI development and use. Since 2020, the Pontifical Academy for Life, which promotes Catholic moral teachings on bioethics, has been pushing the “Rome Call for AI Ethics.” This document outlines six principles for AI ethics, including transparency, inclusion, responsibility, and impartiality.

The Vatican is seeking support from major tech companies and governments. So far, Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco Systems, along with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, Italy’s innovation ministry, and numerous religious leaders, have signed the document.

At the G7 summit, Pope Francis is expected to urge world leaders to collaborate on AI regulation, echoing his call for a “binding international treaty” to prevent harmful practices and encourage beneficial ones. European Union lawmakers have already passed a law regulating AI, and a bipartisan group of US senators has proposed plans for AI regulation that could lead to federal legislation.

“The pope is not an engineer, but he is concerned about the social aspects and implications of AI,” said Father Paolo Benanti, a Franciscan friar and professor working with the Vatican on AI issues, who is also a member of a UN advisory body on AI. At the G7, he expects the pope to emphasize themes from his previous messages on the subject.

“The core approach of Francis is focused on what new technology means for our coexistence: which elements of AI are causing inequality, and issues such as the distribution of fake news in the public square. He takes a global perspective and sees that the global south lacks the same access to technology as other regions.”

Benanti noted that Francis is sensitive to the “great challenges facing humanity,” highlighting that he began his papacy by addressing the plight of migrants and has since tackled climate change in a major papal document. Now, his focus is on AI.

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, told CNN that “only regulation at the international level can produce valid and appreciable results in stopping abuse, manipulation, and instrumentalization” of new technology. The academy's push for more ethical AI aims to ensure a “path of sustainable development for all humanity.”

Italy, currently holding the rotating presidency of the G7, temporarily banned ChatGPT last year over privacy concerns and plans to penalize AI misuse. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni believes the pope’s presence in Puglia will significantly contribute to creating an ethical and cultural regulatory framework for AI. She emphasized the importance of harnessing the “best ethical and intellectual reflections” in this area, noting that the “Rome Call for AI Ethics” is helping to develop the concept of “algorethics” — ethics for algorithms.

Pope Francis’ decision to attend the G7 summit signals his desire to engage in the “real debate” on AI, as papal adviser Father Antonio Spadaro posted on X, formerly Twitter. In Puglia, Francis will have the chance to speak directly with decision-makers, underlining his vision of a Church that engages with the world rather than retreating from it.

Father Philip Larrey, author of “Artificial Humanity” and former dean of the Philosophy Department at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, described Francis’ decision to attend as “quite surprising” but believes it will “influence the outcome” of the summit.

“AI and emerging technologies are on Pope Francis’ radar,” Larrey told CNN. “He wants to use the richness of the Catholic tradition to reflect on the ethical implications of AI. His personal presence in Puglia testifies to the urgency of that message: he often refers to ‘person-centered AI’ to make his point.”

The “deep fake” image of the pope in the puffer jacket marked a significant moment in AI and deep fakery, showcasing the power of new technology to manipulate images. Francis addressed this issue when warning about disinformation and the spread of images that “appear perfectly plausible but false.” He remarked, “I too have been an object of this.”

Not just the puffer jacket image, but the pope has also been depicted in deep fakes showing him skateboarding, riding a motorcycle, and even attending the Burning Man festival in Nevada.

Clearly, Pope Francis sees AI as part of the “epochal change” occurring in the 21st century. His decision to attend the G7 summit demonstrates his commitment to ensuring the Church plays a central role in discussions about AI, advocating for technology that benefits all of humanity.