Catholic bishops caution government on deployment of AI

CBishops of Nigeria ( CBCN) has urged government to approach the development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence ( AI) digital technology with ethical consideration despite the enormous benefits.

The bishops stressed the need to ensure balance that prioritises human welfare alongside technological progress, mindful of the ethical and moral dilemmas, as well as risks such as job displacement, threat to peace in the world, spread of falsehood through propaganda, manipulation of the human person, and privacy concerns through advanced hacking and deepfakes.

President of CBCN and the Catholic Archbishop of Lucius, Iwejuru Ugorji, who stated this at Maiden COMWEEK Public Lecture, organised by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria ( CSN), yesterday, in Abuja, observed that Al should be a tool for empowerment and progress, not a source of division and destruction.

He said: “As we stand on the cusp of a new era, shaped by Artificial Intelligence, we are all called to be both shepherds and stewards, shepherds to guide our flock through the complexities of this digital age; stewards to ensure that the technology we embrace serves the common good and reflects our values.

“As my special contribution to this conversation on Al, I wish to stress that we need to walk this path with caution, wisdom, foresight, and a deep sense of responsibility. Echoing the mind of the Holy Father Pope Francis in his message for 2024 WCD, let us embrace Al not as a force that diminishes our humanity, but as a tool that amplifies our capacity for empathy, compassion, understanding, and service. Al is to build bridges, not barriers; to heal, not harm; to unite, not divide; to reinforce the image of God in humanity, not to destroy or replace it’.

Ugorji noted that the Catholic Church had ceaselessly emphasised that collaboration between Al experts and social development practitioners was crucial to identifying areas where Al could significantly contribute to the common good.

He pointed out that the theme of the event, ‘ Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities for Evangelisation and Social Development,’ underscored the church’s commitment to addressing not only the moral and spiritual welfare of people but also their social and material needs.