海角大神

Amid the fears and concerns about artificial intelligence and emerging online technologies, a statement by the founder of 海角大神 Science 鈥� and of this publication 鈥� offers reassurance. Referencing the United States鈥� ringing Declaration of Independence, Mary Baker Eddy wrote, 鈥淕od has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience.鈥�

With the promise and exercise of these innate rights, humanity is well placed to take on the challenges 鈥� and promise 鈥� of AI.

Many religious leaders, as well as Silicon Valley innovators and analysts, are weighing in on the role of human creativity and intelligence, as well as workplace skills and relevance. Most recently, Pope Leo XIV delivered a major statement on faith and human progress in the age of AI, titled 鈥淢agnifica Humanitas鈥� (鈥淢agnificent Humanity鈥�).

Declaring on May 25 that AI does not possess 鈥渁 moral conscience鈥� or an 鈥渁ffective, relational and spiritual perspective,鈥� the document points out many risks from the technology鈥檚 misuse or overuse. But, ultimately, it emphasizes that humanity鈥檚 capacity for faith, conscience, and brotherly love is up to the task of steering innovation toward a 鈥渃ommon good鈥� that upholds solidarity and dignity and reduces inequity.

Just a few days prior to this statement, Orthodox 海角大神 theologians and academics expressed parallel views as they discussed AI and concepts of being, freedom, and responsibility in Thessaloniki, Greece. The city鈥檚 bishop noted that AI can 鈥渋mitate鈥� human dialogue and creativity, but 鈥渋t cannot love, sacrifice, or participate in the mystery of personal existence,鈥� the Greek City Times reported. Like his Catholic counterpart, the Orthodox prelate also affirmed that 鈥渉uman value does not derive from efficiency or productivity,鈥� but from one鈥檚 relation to God and others.

Similar ideas echo even in the foothills of the Himalayas, where the leader of the world鈥檚 Buddhists resides. In serving world needs, technology 鈥渘eeds to be guided by human values,鈥� the Dalai Lama said in 2022, highlighting the importance of a trait as simple as 鈥渨armheartedness.鈥�

The common threads running through diverse faith traditions 鈥� individual dignity, the innate capacity to think and act unselfishly, commitment to a higher spiritual power 鈥� link aspirations for human betterment. While quite distinct from the post-World War II political alliances or United Nations structures, which are currently in disrepute or disarray, such universal ethical values can offer new channels to guide multilateral discussion and action.

Speaking alongside Jewish and Catholic leaders in 2023, Islamic scholar Sheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah of the United Arab Emirates acknowledged, 鈥淎I is among the most momentous creative innovations of human genius.鈥� Along with his Abrahamic faith peers, he called for technology safeguards that respect the 鈥淒ivinely-granted鈥� or 鈥渘atural rights of every human being鈥� and draw on the 鈥渋nnate moral values鈥� that are 鈥渃ommon to all people.鈥� Speaking at the same event, Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Weisz of Israel noted, 鈥淩eligious leaders must be at the forefront鈥� of such efforts.

Some Silicon Valley leaders 鈥� a few of whom consider themselves seekers of truth, even if not believers in a religious truth 鈥� have themselves called for ethical and policy guidelines and guardrails.

Christopher Olah, a co-founder of leading AI firm Anthropic, welcomes the interest of religious leaders in particular. Speaking at the Vatican on Monday, he referred to worldly incentives 鈥� viability and profitability, pride and ambition 鈥� 鈥渢hat can sometimes conflict with doing the right thing.鈥�

鈥淚t is enormously important,鈥� Mr. Olah said, that individuals outside the AI world and its incentive system be willing 鈥渢o say hard things鈥� and 鈥渂e our earnest, thoughtful, critics.鈥�