“Magnifica Humanitas”, the encyclical on AI that puts the Catholic Church “in a moment of historical change”

Fonseca points out that the New things “It was published just when something similar was happening”but in the context of the industrial revolution of the 19th century.

“That seems important to me, in principle. That is, The church and the thought of the Church are being placed in a moment of historical change. I insist, it represented a tremendous challenge at the end of the 19th century and now artificial intelligence technology is representing another challenge in the 21st century.”compares Fonseca.

Along these lines, another specialist, Juan Manuel Santillán, points out some differences with what has been happening with AI.

On the one hand, the professor and researcher at the University of Lima points out that we are no longer only faced with industrial machines that replace physical strength, “but rather in the face of language models, algorithmic systems and platforms capable of producing speeches, classifying people, guiding decisions and constructing versions of reality”.

Consider that the encyclical does not reject AI, but it does raise several questions.

“What is at stake today is that AI not only processes data but produces language. And whoever produces language not only informs, but also participates in the construction of imaginaries, meanings, values ​​and perceptions of reality. That is why “The encyclical is correct in placing the problem in the realm of truth.”Santillán reveals to this newspaper.

The historical moment

While it is true that AI has existed for just over 50 years, it was not until this decade that it received a boost with generative AI, and models like ChatGPT marked the change in 2022. Today it is no longer just a technological innovation.

For Santillán, the “Magnifica Humanitas” comes at a very significant moment, since AI “It is a cultural, communicational and anthropological transformation”.

But it is also a moment of political change.

“When the Pope talks about “disarming” AI, he is not saying that it must be destroyed or prohibited. He is saying that it must be removed from a logic of dominance, competition, monopoly and power”explains the professor at the University of Lima.