512. The Pope, AI, and Us

 

Pope Leo XIV has written his first encyclical (type of letter), on keeping our humanity in AI times, whilst at the same time he urges that AI serve humanity and not just the power of the few. Therefore, AI is a valuable instrument which, however, needs careful handling.

And that echoes my attitude throughout the decades where important changes in my life have occurred. With me it all began with calculators. Never having been too hot with figures, I found myself not having to think what six eights were anymore, in a few clicks, I got my answer.  Then we thought those bulky manual typewriters were a God sent and not only to those of us with scratchy handwriting either, so you can imagine my reaction when electric typewriters came out! Whilst the step to that amazing function, “word-processing” was just round the corner – no need to re-type the whole page if you wanted to make changes. Wasn’t that amazing? But a yet more wonderous thing was awaiting in the wings… Internet! Smart phones! The world at my fingertips and not only – no need for the postman either – a click and your email was dropped into the mail box of a recipient on the other side of the world instantly… and to think it took a full ten days for a letter from the U.K. to reach Italy.

And now, the crowning glory – AI.

I have only touched the ice-berg of its possibilities and can only imagine its potential – and yes, I too will use it to make my life easier: like all innovations in my life, I have never rejected anything but at the same time I have never fully embraced anything either. And I still think handwriting is a precious skill in my life, but so is typing.

But the world of machines, whilst fascinating, may also be cold and empty like an unlived palace – the flame of human warmth has to kindle the hearth if we want to feel comfortable in the world we have created… at the end of the day, people will no longer be happy with the “perfect” but will yearn for the “imperfection”.