In the Catholic Peace Weekly, a Catholic priest and university professor gives us his thoughts on AI (Artificial Intelligence) and its place in our lives.
AI is leading the world to a superintelligent and superconnected society. Most people nod their heads in agreement that we are now living in the AI era.
According to the 2024 AI-related national awareness survey, more than 60% of the public are interested in understanding AI. Eight out of ten people responded that they have experienced the development of AI and have experience using AI. Most people who have experience using AI responded that AI will have a ‘positive impact on their life and our society as a whole.’
The new AI technology will change the social structure as the latest technologies have in the previous industrial revolutions. It is clear that occupations and the work environment will change, and structural changes will occur in welfare, medical, education, arts, and cultural services. Looking back, in 2010, when AI first began to take hold in our society, there were many large and small debates about the social impact of AI and its scope. Now, such debates have ended. This is because AI has recently been rapidly developing in various fields across society, such as chatbots, creative arts, education, economics, and medical data analysis, and its impact has already been confirmed worldwide.
What should the Catholic Church and local churches in Korea do in the AI era? What does it mean for the church to accept the new AI technology? Is the church prepared to wisely respond to the changing times? Is it properly heading in the direction of the latest AI technology?
The church predicted the destructive power of the new AI technology early on. Starting with the 2017 Plenary Session of the Pontifical Council for Culture (the theme was ‘The Future of Humanity’), we have continuously considered our role in preparing for the threat of advanced science and technology. We must move beyond the consideration stage and pursue changes and acceptance plans utilizing new technologies. Given the recent pace of AI development, it will soon have a ripple effect in all areas, including church administration, finances, liturgy, prayer, education, spirituality, pastoral care, and missionary work. The ripple effect is unpredictable due to the nature of advanced AI technology.
The first card that the church should play in the AI era is ‘AI Literacy". This does not require professional skills, but rather the basic ability to understand and utilize AI technology, and is like the clothing that everyone in the AI era should have. If Christians use and rely on AI services without basic knowledge or thinking, they are likely to be under the control of AI, which can be very threatening to their faith. Experts are concerned that AI technology should be a good that improves human life, but if misused or abused, it can become an evil that causes various side effects.
AI literacy goes beyond understanding and utilizing AI technology to critically analyze its operating principles and effectively use it. It also includes the ability to ethically utilize AI and make correct judgments. Therefore, all organizations, including the government, companies, and churches, should form an organic cooperative relationship to resolve policy, law, and ethical issues related to the development of AI while at the same time providing education and programs to enhance people's AI literacy.
In the AI era, I hope that our church will make improving the AI literacy of believers and pastors a significant task. The church should respond to AI while maintaining its faith context. It is necessary to jointly research and utilize AI technology and functions. That process is Christian AI literacy.
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