By Fr. Johnston Mlambo
On the 12th of May 2024, a significant day for the church, we celebrate the World Day of Social Communications. The theme for this year is “Artificial Intelligence and Wisdom of the Heart: For a fully human communication.” In his Communications Day message, Pope Francis noted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is “radically affecting the world of information and communication, and through it, certain foundations of life in society, … these changes affect everyone.”
The pope exhorts all people of good will to remain fully human and “guide this cultural transformation to serve a good purpose”. For the Holy Father, it all starts with the heart. He points out that “at this time in history, which risks becoming rich in technology and poor in humanity, our reflections must begin with the human heart.”
He reminds us that in the Bible, the heart is portrayed as the place of freedom and decision-making, “symbolising integrity and unity, while also engaging our emotions, desires, and dreams.” He adds, “the inward place of our encounter with God.”
“Wisdom of the heart, then, is the virtue that enables us to integrate the whole and its parts, our decisions and their consequences, our nobility and our vulnerability, our past and our future, our individuality and our membership within a larger community,” says the Roman Pontiff.
“Depending on the inclination of the heart, everything within our reach becomes either an opportunity or a threat,” warns the Pope.
While acknowledging that the technology of simulation behind AI algorithms can be useful in certain specific fields, he quickly highlights that AI becomes “perverse when it distorts our relationship with others and with reality.”
In the wrong hands, AI could lead to “disturbing scenarios.” It is therefore, of paramount importance that we explain in simple terms what Artificial Intelligence is.
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is when machines, like computers, can think and learn like humans.
How AI Works: AI systems look at lots of data, learn from a lot of information, find patterns in it, and then use those patterns to make guesses about what might happen next.
AI Programming: When people talk about programming AI, they’re focusing on teaching computers skills like learning, thinking, fixing mistakes, and being creative. Programming AI focuses on skills like reasoning.
Differences between AI, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning: AI is the overall concept of making computers smart, while machine learning helps them get better at guessing without being directly told what to do; it is a type of AI that helps software get better at predicting things. Deep learning is a specific kind of machine learning that tries to copy how our brains work.
Importance of AI: AI is important because it can change how we do things in our daily lives, at work, and for fun. For example, businesses use AI to do tasks like talking to customers, spotting fraud, improving quality control and checking for mistakes.
Advantages and Disadvantages of AI: AI is good at repetitive tasks, it can do tasks quickly and accurately, but it can be expensive and needs experts to build and use it. Also, it might learn bad things if it’s trained on the wrong information, and may reflect biases.
Strong AI vs. Weak AI: Weak AI (narrow AI) is good at doing one job (it does specific tasks), while strong AI (artificial general intelligence) can do many things and think like a human.
Types of AI: AI can be simple or complex, depending on what it’s meant to do.
Examples of AI Technology: AI is all around us, from self-driving cars to robots to programs that understand and speak human languages.
Applications of AI: AI is used in many areas, like healthcare, business, education, finance, entertainment, security, and transportation. It helps with things like diagnosing diseases, managing money, and even making movies.
What is the impact of AI on poor countries and small economies like Zimbabwe?
According to the International Monetary Fund, AI will affect almost 40 percent of jobs around the world, replacing some and complementing others.
“We are on the brink of a technological revolution that could jumpstart productivity, boost global growth and raise incomes around the world. Yet it could also replace jobs and deepen inequality,” says the IMF on its blog.
The institution goes on to state that, “In emerging markets and low-income countries, by contrast, AI exposure is expected to be 40 percent and 26 percent, respectively. These findings suggest emerging market and developing economies face fewer immediate disruptions from AI. At the same time, many of these countries don’t have the infrastructure or skilled workforces to harness the benefits of AI, raising the risk that over time the technology could worsen inequality among nations.”
IMF forecasts that “In most scenarios, AI will likely worsen overall inequality, a troubling trend that policymakers must proactively address to prevent the technology from further stoking social tensions.”
As we celebrate World Social Communications Day and contemplate the theme of “Artificial Intelligence and Wisdom of the Heart: For a fully human communication,” it becomes evident that AI is a powerful tool with both potential benefits and risks. While it offers opportunities to revolutionise various aspects of our lives, including healthcare, business, and entertainment, it also poses challenges related to job displacement and deepening inequalities, particularly in low-income countries like Zimbabwe.
As communicators, it is essential to understand the implications of AI and strive to ensure that its development and implementation align with ethical principles and human values. By integrating the wisdom of the heart into our approach to AI, we can harness its potential for the greater good while mitigating its negative impacts.
Ultimately, as Pope Francis reminds us, the heart serves as the compass in navigating the transformative changes brought about by AI, guiding us to use this technology responsibly and compassionately for the betterment of humanity.
Ref
Georgieva K., AI Will Transform the Global Economy. Let’s Make Sure It Benefits Humanity, <https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2024/01/14/ai-will-transform-the-global-economy-lets-make-sure-it-benefits-humanity> 14 January 2024.