Why has the Pope launched an 'AI Bible'?

The Vatican's efforts to unite faith and technology can offer the right kind of seriousness, and support for building a more inclusive and ethical future with AI

Pope Francis, of all people, has joined the dialogue surrounding artificial intelligence’s (AI’s) societal impact. The Pope’s involvement in AI ethics is the result of a collaboration between the Vatican and the Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Together they have created the Institute for Technology, Ethics, and Culture (ITEC), a body that will mediate ethical concerns in the realm of technology. This unexpected development is making waves around the world: It signals the Vatican’s determination to be an influential voice in the rapidly evolving field of AI. Already, a handbook, Ethics in the Age of Disruptive Technologies: