The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has called for caution and ethical considerations in the development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI), warning that it must be used as a tool for empowerment and progress rather than division and destruction.
During the maiden edition of the Communication Week Public Lecture in Abuja, the President of CBCN, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, emphasized that while AI has permeated various facets of life and can perform tasks traditionally requiring human intelligence, its development and deployment must be approached with ethical rigour.
The Church recognizes its responsibility to educate the faithful on the positive and negative influences of the media and is committed to addressing the ethical concerns surrounding AI.
Archbishop Ugorji highlighted the importance of a balanced approach that prioritizes human welfare alongside technological progress while being mindful of the ethical and moral dilemmas and risks such as job displacement, threat to peace in the world, spread of falsehood through propaganda, manipulation of the human person, and privacy concerns through advanced hacking and deepfakes.
The guest speaker and Deputy Vice Chancellor of Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos State, Rev. Fr. Prof Anthony Akinwale, argued that Artificial Intelligence (AI) lacks consciousness and free will, and therefore, cannot be considered truly intelligent.
He expressed concerns about the ethical implications of AI, warned that AI systems can be used to spread misinformation and propaganda, and emphasized the need for responsible decision-making in the development of AI. Other critical stakeholders who spoke during the event emphasized the need for a wise approach to guide the development and deployment of AI, highlighting the importance of the Church's mission of evangelization in the context of development.
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, also commended Pope Francis for his courageous stance on AI, which resonates beyond Church circles, reaching the highest levels of the international community.