I was brought up as a Catholic, but I’ve been an atheist since I was sixteen so I really, really don’t care what the Pope says or does. Except for now. The Pope’s document – Magnifica Humanitas – is about the effect AI may have on humans, and that I do care about, a lot.

This is the video analysis of Magnifica Humanitas I just watched:

Honestly, this was the best 13 minutes I’ve ever spent because it encapsulates so much of what chills me about this iteration of AI. And the fact that it comes from the Pope of all people is mind boggling. Anyway for those of you who haven’t spent the same 13 minutes, here’s a quick summary of the points covered in the video:

• Transhumanism is the philosophy underlying much of the development of AI in the West. Transhumanism is something Peter Thiel embraces – instant alarm bells. Transhumanism basically says that humans are inefficient and their value is based on the degree to which they become more efficient. Or are made to become more efficient. Hmm…
• The Just War Doctrine is now obsolete because autonomous AI weaponry has no conscience. Therefore the rules that described how and when a war might be justified – e.g. in defence – are no longer in play.
• Private tech companies – our beloved Robber Barons – are now more powerful than some governments and control what we see, hear, and think.
• AI is built on something very close to slave labour. The specific example is Third World data labellers who work under poor conditions for very little pay. What are data labellers? They are the people who literally attach a label to all sorts of images so AI knows what they are – e.g. car, backpack, street lamp etc etc.
• AI is not neutral. AI may be a machine but it is built/trained by people with distinct biases, therefore what comes out of AI is also biased.

If any of these five points caught your attention, please watch the video. Or at least click on the relevant timestamp in the description of the video. Don’t know how? Click the ‘More…’ option in the description found below the video and then click one of the links that will take you directly to the point you’re interested in:

Have a great weekend everyone.

Cheers,
Meeks