• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
TechEngage®

TechEngage®

Technology news and opinions

  • Tech News
  • Reviews
  • How-to
  • Roundups
  • Science
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Space
  • Apps
  • More
    • Opinion
    • Noteworthy
    • Culture
    • Blockchain
      • Cryptocurrency
    • Events
    • Deals
    • Startups
      • Startup Submissions
  • Videos
TechEngage » News » AI News

What did the pope say to the president of Microsoft?

Avatar Of Jessica Baron, Phd Jessica Baron, PhD February 19, 2019

Two image collage of Microsoft President and Pope Francis
Via: Wikimedia Commons\Internet

No, it’s not a joke. Microsoft President Brad Smith met with Pope Francis last Wednesday at the Vatican to discuss artificial intelligence. They were joined by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia of the Pontifical Academy for Life, the scientific office that promotes the Catholic Church’s positions on human life. The three men discussed “artificial intelligence at the service of the common good and activities aimed at bridging the digital divide that still persists at the global level,” according to a statement.

In an interview that Smith gave to the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano after the meeting, he said the 30-minute conversation included the pontiff’s concerns that “strong ethical and new, evolved laws” are needed to reign in technology and keep it out of the wrong hands.

The Microsoft president listed ethics, A.I., and people-centered tech among his top 10 tech concerns for 2019 in a LinkedIn post in January, claiming that his company was dedicated to playing “a proactive role in addressing the ethical dimensions that require public policy attention.”

While we don’t know much else about the closed-door meeting, there is footage from a slightly larger gathering put on for the press and recorded by Rome Reports, in which Smith can be heard saying “We really feel like this is a critical moment in time.”

In a Tweet the day after the meeting, Smith said: “We live at a time when we must stay true to timeless values as we advance new technology. I spent the afternoon at the Vatican discussing the teachings of the church, #AI ethics, and why we must always put humanity first.”

The meeting came just a few days after U.S. president Donald Trump signed an executive order to dedicate government resources to AI research, a decision likely made in response to China’s growing dominance in the field. While there’s no indication that the men spoke about the executive order and the meeting was undoubtedly scheduled before Trump’s surprise announcement, it does add to the chorus of pleas from around the world for the ethical development of AI, especially as countries appear to be racing towards some invisible “finish line.”

While Pope Francis may have called himself a “disaster” when it comes to understanding technology in the past, the science-friendly pope has taken a keen interest in emerging technologies since his election.

Francis has been a strong advocate of global action against climate change, which was the subject of his 2015 encyclical, Laudato sì.

Last November he spoke to the audience at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences’ plenary meeting at the Vatican on “Transformative roles of science in society: From emerging basic science toward solutions for people’s wellbeing.” Francis warned attendees that it was not enough to merely follow the principles of ethics, but that the Church expects “a positive service” from scientists.

This echoes the pope’s surprise TED talk at TED2017 in Vancouver, Canada. In his unexpected 17-minute pre-recorded address, he addressed the theme “technology and innovation,” and told the innovators and tech executives gathered that technological innovation should come along with social inclusion.

According to Rome Reports, the Vatican will hold major meetings on the ethics of AI in the coming months and Smith will take part in a later meeting in 2020.

Reuters reported that the Vatican’s Academy for Life and Microsoft also told the pope that they would jointly sponsor a prize for the best doctoral dissertation in 2019 on the theme of “artificial intelligence at the service of human life.”

Related Tags: AI BradSmith Microsoft PopeFrancis Vatican

Related Stories

  • A Cunning Ai Cheated Humans

    A cunning AI cheated humans

  • Adobe Characterizer Makes Captivating Animated Videos With The Power Of Ai

    Adobe Characterizer makes captivating animated videos with the power of AI

  • Google Uses Ai To Create The First Intelligent Doodle

    Google uses AI to create the first intelligent Doodle

Avatar Of Jessica Baron, Phd

Jessica Baron, PhD

Former Editor-in-chief

I am a technology writer and tech ethics consultant whose work has appeared in international news and trade outlets. I have a PhD in History and Philosophy of Science and write about everything from future military weapons to advances in medicine.

Reader Interactions

Share Your Thoughts Cancel reply

Please read our comment policy before submitting your comment. Your email address will not be used or publish anywhere. You will only receive comment notifications if you opt to subscribe below.

Primary Sidebar

Become a contributor

We are accepting contributor applications. All applications will be decided in 3 days after applying. To learn more click here.
TechEngage-Apple-News
TechEngage-Google-News
Apple AirPods Pro

10 best earbuds 2023

best laptops for writers

5 Recommended Laptops For Writers and Journalists

Recent Stories

  • Top Slack Alternatives in 2023
  • Apple strengthens account security with hardware keys support
  • 10 Best Messenger Apps in 2023
  • Essential Netflix tips and tricks 2023
  • How to lock Netflix profiles in 2023

Footer

Discover

  • About us
  • Newsroom
  • Staff
  • Advertise
  • Send us a tip
  • Startup Submission Questionnaire
  • Brand Kit
  • Contact us

Legal pages

  • Reviews Guarantee
  • Community Guidelines
  • Corrections Policy and Practice
  • Cookies Policy
  • Our Ethics
  • Disclaimer
  • GDPR Compliance
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Must reads

  • Best AirPods alternatives on Amazon
  • Best PC monitors for gaming on Amazon
  • Best family board games
  • Best Graphics Cards (GPUs) for gaming
  • Best video doorbells without subscription
  • Best handheld video game consoles
  • Best all-season tires for snow
  • Best mobile Wi-Fi hotspots
  • Best treadmills on Amazon
  • Best AM radios for long-distance reception

Download our apps

TechEngage-app-google-play-store

Copyright © 2023 · All Rights Reserved · TechEngage® is a Project of TechAbout LLC.
TechEngage® is a registered trademark in United Kingdom under Trademark Number UK00003417167 and is ISSN protected under the ISSN 2690-3776 and OCLC Number 1139335774.

Go to mobile version