Sir, – In one of his first speeches as pope, Leo XIV outlined his priorities for his papacy. Interestingly, one of these is the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI). The pope believes that AI is a threat to “humanity, justice and labour”.
He said that this was one of the key reasons for him choosing the name Leo XIV. He had spoken previously about the impact of the industrial revolution on workers’ rights.
We are now arguably going through another “industrial revolution” of sorts. Before, it was concerns that machines would replace people and take their jobs. Now it’s the same but with AI.
We adapted before and we can adapt again; not by trying to beat AI by being robots but by fully embracing our humanity – the qualities that set us apart from AI, qualities like our emotions, our ability to connect and build strong, trusting relationships and our ability to empathise.
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If we are fully human, if we stop trying to beat AI at its own game, AI can never truly replace us, never truly do away with the need for real, human people in the workforce and in society.
As a young person, I’m often asked the question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”
Whatever answer I give, the response is usually: “Oh, that job will be done away it; AI will be doing it in the future.”
But I remain hopeful, faithful that I will be needed in society.
And that AI can’t replace humans if we are truly human, fully ourselves. – Yours, etc,
TESS LIFFEY,
Birr,
Co Offaly.
