Ancient and New Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the fruit of a great leap forward in technology that has occurred in recent decades. Some see it as the most significant scientific development since the discovery of electricity. We already see lots of examples of AI in daily life. If you drive a new car there are many safety features such as emergency breaking and lane-keeping which are possible due to artificial intelligence. These systems react faster than humans and thereby prevent accidents.
What is artificial intelligence? ‘Artificial’ tells us that it is mechanical and therefore not human. But is resembles human intelligence in that it allows computerised machines to do many things that previously only humans could do. ‘Intelligence’ refers to the vast amount of information that AI collects and manages. Pope Francis has described AI as a new and significant phase in humanity’s engagement with technology.
This new technology will impact on almost every area of our lives. AI brings numerous benefits. Due to the vast amount of information that it will store and the speed with which it will process it, diagnosis of illness will be quicker and more accurate. Weather forecasting will become more reliable and faster. AI will search video recordings for a police suspect in a fraction of the time that it currently takes manually. Many of the repetitive, mundane tasks and jobs that exist today will be taken over by AI.
Paul Tighe is an Irish bishop who works in the Vatican. He was the lead author of a document on AI approved by Pope Francis that was published recently. It is a valuable contribution to the current debate on AI. The document acknowledges and praises the practical benefits of artificial intelligence but also reminds us that progress comes at a price. AI and the hardware required to support it consumes vast amounts of energy and water. It may operate in the cloud but as the Vatican document points out the cloud is not an ‘ethereal domain separate from the physical world …. It relies on physical machines, cables and energy.’ The proliferation of data centres and their impact on the environment is part of the price we pay for the benefits of AI.
Artificial intelligence can never replace human genius and brilliance. It brings extraordinary benefits in areas that rely on data and computing. However, machines are incapable of computing the defining features of humanity. No computer can integrate love, hope, delight, spirituality, poetry, truth, dignity, music, forgiveness, beauty, lived experience, authentic human relationships, moral discernment, ethics and many other non-quantifiable human realities into its algorithms and operation. AI, the Vatican document reminds us, is not an artificial form of human intelligence but a product of human intelligence.
Like every other product of human creativity, artificial intelligence can be used in a positive or negative way. It could further increase inequality in our world. Control of this new and extremely powerful technology could be confined to a few countries or even companies or individuals thereby disempowering the rest of the world. AI could accelerate the trend towards human relationships being conducted on a virtual level which will never fully satisfy the human heart. While it could make education more readily available across the globe, the lack of real human contact between teacher and student could undermine the role of teacher as mentor.
The document from the Hoy See also draws attention to the risk of AI manipulating content and generating false information. ‘Deepfake’ images of celebrities are increasingly commonplace and are often difficult to distinguish from reality. This in turn could be used to manipulate markets and elections and thereby frustrate the democratic will of the people. The extraordinary ability of AI to store and analyse data has major implications for our privacy. So much of what we do today involves the generation of data. Our ‘phones literally record every step we take. Therefore, the people who have access to this data know almost every detail of our lives.
On an even more serious level, the Holy See document discusses the ‘weaponisation of artificial intelligence’. Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems are capable of identifying and striking targets without direct human intervention. The potential for global disaster is terrifying.
It is encouraging that our Church is contributing a Christian perspective to the ongoing debate regarding artificial intelligence. Human dignity can never be reduced to the collection and management of data. Advances in technology can bring astonishing, positive innovations especially in healthcare. However, it is only by rediscovering the wisdom of the heart that we can integrate this wonderful new technology into decisions and actions that cherish all humanity. Technological progress is part of God’s plan for humanity, but we need the grace of the Holy Spirit to utilise it for the good of all people.
Fr. Albert McDonnell, Tradaree Pastoral Area is Chancellor of the Diocese of Killaloe.
Clare Champion article, Friday, 21st of February, 2025