We must not reject AI, but be cautious on its use- Archbishop Adewale Martins

BY PHILIP NWOSU

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, most Reverend Alfred Adewale Martins has re-echoed the message of the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis calling on the world not to reject in its entirety the technological advancement made by the development of Artificial Intelligence and also the world must not idolize it.to the extent that its shortcomings cannot be seen.
He said that if caution is not applied in the use of artificial intelligence, the world may arrive at a point where the human person will now play second fiddle to AI.
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos said that artificial intelligence is a creation of the humans and if used inappropriately it can make humans play a second fiddle in the advancement of the world.
He said there is a need to create a balance of either rejecting or accepting it, calling for regulations that ensure Artificial Intelligence (AI) development “ultimately serve the cause of human fraternity and peace.”
Reverend Adewale Martins spoke while addressing journalists at a press conference to mark the 2024 World Communication Day, saying that the use of artificial intelligence can make a positive contribution to the communications sector, provided it does not eliminate the role of journalism on the ground but serves to support it.
Pope Francis in his message which was read during the Mass for the World Communication Day 2024, said that with the global scale of artificial intelligence development, there is need for sovereign nations to regulate its use internally,adding that international organizations can play a decisive role in reaching multilateral agreements and coordinating their application and enforcement.
The Pope urged the global community of nations to work together in order to adopt a binding international treaty that regulates the development and use of artificial intelligence in its many forms, adding that “the goal of regulation, naturally, should not only be the prevention of harmful practices but also the encouragement of best practices, by stimulating new and creative approaches and encouraging individual or group initiatives.”
The Pope in his message titled “Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart: Towards a Fully Human Communication, raised many questions that borders around the introduction of AI, saying, “ How do we safeguard professionalism and the dignity of workers in the fields of information and communication, together with that of users throughout the world?
“How do we ensure the interoperability of platforms? How do we enable businesses that develop digital platforms to accept their responsibilities with regard to content and advertising in the same way as editors of traditional communications media?”