In an unprecedented development, the Vatican has signaled its determination to be an influential voice in the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence. The new partnership has resulted in the publication of a handbook on the ethics of AI, developed under the direction of Pope Francis himself.
This remarkable commitment of the Pope to AI ethics is the result of a collaboration with the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. Together, they have created the Institute for Technology, Ethics, and Culture (ITEC), an institution that aims to mediate ethical concerns in the technological realm.
The Ethical Compass for the Age of Disruptive Technologies
The first significant output of this organization is an enlightening publication titled “Ethics in the Age of Disruptive Technologies: An Operational Roadmap.” The document outlines ethical guidelines for the tech industry as they navigate the tumultuous waters of AI, machine learning, encryption, tracking, and more.
The intersection of the Vatican, a millennia-old institution representing spiritual values, and AI, a recent technological marvel, might seem incongruous at first glance. However, the Vatican’s unique position and influence can convene important actors to deliberate on these crucial issues.
The Vatican Meets Silicon Valley
“Technology executives from all over Silicon Valley have been coming to me for years and saying, ‘You need to help us, there’s a lot on the horizon, and we aren’t prepared,'” recounts Father Brendan McGuire, the pastor of St. Simon Parish in Los Altos and advisor to ITEC.
This remarkable initiative offers a refreshing contrast to existing approaches, which predominantly revolve around lobbying for regulatory measures. Instead of waiting for government interventions, the ITEC handbook provides a moral compass for tech companies already grappling with AI’s most challenging ethical dilemmas.
A Handbook for Practice
The handbook advocates for the integration of ethical values rooted in certain principles into both technology and the organizations that develop them from the outset. It strongly emphasizes that corporate actions should serve the “Common Good of Humanity and the Environment.” This grand principle is segmented into seven key guidelines, such as “Respect for Human Dignity and Rights,” and “Promote Transparency and Explainability.” These guidelines are further distilled into 46 concrete actionable steps, each accompanied by detailed definitions, examples, and actionable strategies​.
“The objective is to empower individuals within companies as they carry out their day-to-day tasks, whether that’s writing code, creating a technical manual, or contemplating issues around workplace culture,” explains Gregg Skeet, one of the main authors of the handbook.
The Vatican and the Future of AI
The Vatican’s proactive stance on the future of AI and technology mirrors the concerns of other influential organizations.Major organizations such as OpenAI, which unleashed the powerful AI model ChatGPT, have already stressed the need for AI regulation to the U.S. Congress and presidents. Critics, however, argue that fixating on a distant, potentially apocalyptic future distracts from the immediate problems that existing AI technology is already causing.
The Vatican, with its extensive experience in theological and existential issues, is well positioned to address such profound questions. “Major safeguards are absolutely necessary, and governments will inevitably enforce them,” says Father Brendan. “But this handbook plays a critical role in accelerating the approach to design and consumer implementation.We aim to equip companies to meet the standards we need long before they are enforced by law.”The collaboration between the Vatican and the tech industry shows how old institutions and new technologies can work together to shape a more ethical and just future.By combining spirituality and technology, perhaps a new way can be found in the relationship between man and machine.
