In a historic first, Pope Francis is set to address the Group of Seven (G7) summit, bringing attention to the urgent need for robust regulations on artificial intelligence (AI). His speech, scheduled for Friday at the annual G7 gathering in southern Italy, marks the first time a pope has participated in such a summit.
The pontiff's concerns about AI extend far beyond the viral deepfake photo of him in a white puffer jacket that circulated last year. He aims to emphasize the necessity of ethical AI development, advocating for international treaties to ensure that AI technologies align with human values such as compassion, morality, and mercy.
Upon his arrival at the summit venue, Pope Francis was welcomed by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who acknowledged the significance of his participation. "It's going to be a long day," Meloni remarked as they proceeded to the first of the pope's bilateral meetings before his keynote address.
In his annual peace message, Pope Francis called for a global framework to oversee AI, warning of the dangers posed by technologies developed without ethical considerations. He highlighted the potential risks to fundamental human rights, peace, and the spread of disinformation, discrimination, and societal distortion.
The pope’s presence at the G7 summit underscores his moral authority and the broader concerns about AI's impact on society. "The pope is, well, a very special kind of celebrity," said John Kirton, a political scientist at the University of Toronto and director of the G7 Research Group. Kirton noted that the last summit to garner similar star power was the 2005 Gleneagles meeting, which saw significant outcomes, including debt relief for the world's poorest countries.
While no comparable popular pressure exists for the G7 leaders gathered in Puglia, Italy, Pope Francis’s advocacy for AI safeguards is expected to resonate strongly. His involvement aligns with ongoing efforts by G7 nations to address AI regulation.
Japan, holding the G7 presidency last year, initiated the Hiroshima AI process to establish guiding principles for AI developers. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently proposed a global regulatory framework for generative AI, which can produce text, images, and other media based on prompts. The European Union's AI Act, set to take effect within two years, could serve as a global model, while the United States is pursuing similar legislative measures under President Joe Biden’s administration.
In addition to AI, Pope Francis's schedule includes bilateral meetings with global leaders such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and heads of state from Algeria, Brazil, India, Kenya, and Turkey. He will also meet with G7 leaders, including President Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The pope's call for ethical AI development reflects widespread concerns about the technology's potential dangers. While AI's capabilities have impressed many, they have also sparked fears about job displacement, algorithmic bias, and the amplification of disinformation. As the world grapples with these challenges, Pope Francis's address to the G7 aims to rally global leaders toward a unified, ethical approach to AI development.
