Pope Francis speaks out on dangers of AI months after computer-generated ‘drip’ pic of him went viral

Remember the AI image of a swagged-out Pope Francis that went viral?

A few months may have passed since it surfaced, but the Pontiff has now spoken out.

Not specifically about the picture, but about the potential risks and perils associated with AI.

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Ahead of the 57th World Day of Peace, Pope Francis highlighted the need for global contemplation regarding the profound implications of AI.

As head of the Catholic Church, the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis’ life has been dedicated to his religion.

He can therefore be forgiven for being unfamiliar with technology.

But despite not being tech savvy, Pope Francis warned against the “disruptive possibilities and ambivalent effects” that AI introduced into our lives.

Pope Francis in Balenciaga deepfake fools millions: ‘Definitely scary’ https://t.co/c8aKglruXa pic.twitter.com/7Uz8ivm1ak

— New York Post (@nypost) March 28, 2023

He stressed the necessity for vigilance against the development of AI technologies that could perpetuate violence and discrimation, particularly at the expense of marginalized communities.

“The urgent need to orient the concept and use of artificial intelligence in a responsible way, so that it may be at the service of humanity and the protection of our common home, requires that ethical reflection be extended to the sphere of education and law,” a message released by the Vatican read.

The Pope’s not the only one to speak out about AI, though.

Tech moguls like Geoffrey Hinton, Elon Musk, and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs have expressed their concern.

They have also advocated for a slowdown in the advancement of AI systems “more powerful” than OpenAI’s GPT-4.

Warren Buffet also expressed doubts about OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

The business magnate and investor even likened it to the invention of the Atom Bomb.

Tech heavyweights including Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta Platforms have pledged to adhere to a set of voluntary guidelines aimed at mitigating AI-related risks.