Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos has enjoined Nigerians to strike a balance between the positive and negative impacts of Artificial Intelligence in such a manner that they neither reject nor idolise it. The prelate advised we should maximise the positive impacts of AI while mitigating the negative consequences, by developing ethical guidelines for its use for the common good. He made this assertion at a media interaction held on Sunday, May 12, 2024 at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. Noting that AI is a powerful technology with the potential to both benefit and harm society, the cleric said it is important to be aware of both the positive and negative impacts of AI so that we can develop and use this technology responsibly.
Archbishop Martins said, “We thank Pope Francis for calling our attention to the issues that arise around artificial intelligence and all that surrounds it. First of all, he recognises the fact that the artificial intelligence and its uses are in reality, and we all one way or another have been enjoying what it presents to us as values. In our different ways, we have been making use of artificial intelligence in different areas of our lives. “But as useful as it is, our Holy Father calls our attention to the fact that we need to have a disposition that is necessary, in order that we can take full advantage of artificial intelligence and avoid the negatives around that technological development. He reminds us that this technological development is like a revolutionary event, a build-up upon what has been constantly growing since long time past in history, but it has taken up a new dimension.”
The prelate urged everyone to use the disposition that the Church has always had towards science and its discoveries. “The Church has always looked at science as being a very useful tool, but it is not all that there is. And therefore, between faith and reason, there is a connection, between science and mission, there is a connection, and the connection is such that if we put it to use, it will serve all of humanity. “ And so, he says, we should not as it were, reject the advancement that has been made with the artificial intelligence that is being put to use, we should not look at all the negatives and therefore, say this is of no benefit. But at the same time, we should not idolise artificial intelligence to the extent that we are so taken up by all that it is able to do, that we are not able to recognise its shortcomings. “
And so, the shortcomings that our Holy Father points out includes the fact that if we are not careful, we can arrive at a point in which the human person is made almost at playing a second fiddle to artificial intelligence, whereas, artificial intelligence is a creation of human persons. If we do not put it to use appropriately, it can make the human person to be playing a second fiddle. “And so, that is why the question about how rich the world is as long as technology is concerned put side by side with how poor the world is in humanity as he puts it, we need to ensure that we create a balance; a balance of neither rejecting nor idolising.” Archbishop Martins admonished the world to engage with the creators of artificial intelligence systems to ensure that this technology is used to improve the lives of everyone. “We should be aware of both the positive and negative impacts of AI so that we can develop and use this technology responsibly. “
We must engage with the creators of artificial intelligence systems to help them recognise some of the fears, some of the concerns that are there with regards to its use. And if we are aware of some of these concerns, then we will factor that into their creations. And then apart from that, we should recognise that there are many more issues that are involved in the use of artificial intelligence. How does it impact upon the dignity of the human person? How does it impact upon the possibility to use artificial intelligence systems to make what they call deepfakes; fake news, fake information and dissemination of fake stories about people, about institutions.”
