Artificial Intelligence and Ethics

On Tuesday I had the enjoyable opportunity to visit the Microsoft Campus in Redmond to visit with one of their Vice Presidents. While the meeting was primarily a meet and greet, we also enjoyed a fascinating conversation about the work of Microsoft in the field of Artificial Intelligence and the interest the Catholic Church has in this new revolutionary world.

Pope Francis called together many of today’s tech leaders for a conference on the need for ethical guidelines for the field of Artificial Intelligence. In February of 2020 they signed a document which outlined the basic principles which they agreed would guide their ongoing work in this field, The agreement is called The Rome Call For AI Ethics. Signatories included the Pontifical Academy for Life, Microsoft, IBM, FAO, and the Italian Government.

These are the basic principles which are meant to guide this work:

1. Transparency: in principle, AI systems must be explainable;

2. Inclusion: the needs of all human beings must be taken into consideration so that everyone

can benefit and all individuals can be offered the best possible conditions to express

themselves and develop;

3. Responsibility: those who design and deploy the use of AI must proceed with responsibility

and transparency;

4. Impartiality: do not create or act according to bias, thus safeguarding fairness and human

dignity;

5. Reliability: AI systems must be able to work reliably;

6. Security and privacy: AI systems must work securely and respect the privacy of users.

I am grateful that Microsoft allows employees to gather for faith-affiliated activities. The Catholic group also gathers at the local parish, St. Jude for Mass once a month. Following our visit on campus, I traveled to St. Jude where I presided over a 6:00 Mass for all who work in the tech industry in the Pudget Sound area. Some of the other tech companies here include Amazon Web Services, Google’s Cloud and Meta to name just a few.

We had a great turnout for our 6:00 Mass where I was able to thank each of those present for living their faith in the work place! A large percentage of those who attended Mass participated in a reception which followed. The energy in this group is palpable!

Here are some of my homily thoughts from Mass, which happened to be the Feast of Dedication of the Churches of Peter and Paul, Apostles.

In First Reading from Acts, (28:11-16, 30-31) St. Paul references the figurehead on the ship he sailed. I was immediately drawn to know more about this obscure detail. Dioscuri refers to Greek mythology – to two twin brothers, Castor & Pollux, who were mortal and immortal, sons of Zeus and protectors of sailors and horsemen. 

In today’s terminology, as some of you are most surely aware Dioscuri is also the name given to Computer emulator: Here is how AI defines this:

Dioscuri is also the name of a flexible, component-based emulator written in Java for digital preservation, which allows old documents and programs to be accessed on modern computers.

Perhaps the baptized in the world today can be the Dioscuri which allow the things of old – namely the faith – to be accessed in our modern world. This is precisely how the Second Vatican Council speaks about the role of the baptized: 

Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church)

• Chapter IV – The Laity: Emphasizes that all baptized share in Christ’s mission. Lay people are called to sanctify the world from within, especially through their work and family life. Their secular duties are not separate from their faith; rather, they are a means of living out their vocation.
• The laity’s role is to bring Gospel values into social, economic, and professional spheres, transforming them according to God’s will.

Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World)

• Part II – Chapter III: Economic and Social Life: Discusses dignity of work and the responsibility of Christians to contribute to the common good. Work is seen as a participation in God’s creative activity, and baptized persons should promote justice, equity, and human dignity in workplaces.
• Work is not just for profit but for service to humanity; Christians should ensure structures respect human dignity.

This is precisely one of the ethical principles found in the Rome Call for AI Ethics: 

AI systems must be conceived, designed and implemented to serve and protect human beings and the environment in which they live. …

In order for technological advancement to align with true progress for the human race and respect for the planet, it must meet three requirements. It must include every human being, discriminating against no one; it must have the good of humankind and the good of every human being at its heart; finally, it must be mindful of the complex reality of our ecosystem and be characterized by the way in which it cares for and protects the planet … (Rome Call for AI Ethics, Rome, February 28, 2020)

In Rome, Paul “proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts) This is the work of all the baptized, to proclaim Christ to the world.

Peter in Luke’s Gospel (14:22-33) when seeing the Lord walking on water in the midst of a storm exclaimed: “Lord if it is you command me to come to you on the water.”

Isn’t it interesting that Peter had no issue walking on water? He was defeated by the wind!

Let us not be defeated by the winds of opposition so often present in our secular world today, but continue with hope to follow the example of Sts. Peter and Paul who gave their lives as a witness and profession of faith that Jesus Christ is Truly the Son of God.

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