(ZENIT News / Rome, 09.01.2024).- The Italian Government appointed Franciscan Friar Paolo Benanti President of the Commission for Artificial Intelligence (AI), given his competence and balance. Friar Paolo was already working as adviser of the United Nations Consultative Council on the same matter, being the only Italian forming part of this body, instituted in October 2023 by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
The appointment, made known by the Under-Secretary of the Presidency of the Italian Government before Christmas 2023, comes into force at the beginning of 2024. One of Friar Paolo’s first tasks is the elaboration of a Report on AI for Prime Minister Georgia Meloni.
In a recent interview on a national TV channel, Friar Paolo talked about the need for an algor-ethics. He reflected further on that need with Pope Francis at the end of March 2023, when he said: “In the process of social and economic decision-making, we must be cautious when it comes to entrusting judgments to algorithms that process compiled data, often surreptitiously, about people’s characteristics and past behaviour. This data can be contaminated by social prejudices and pre-conceived ideas. Especially, because the past behaviour of an individual must not be used to deny him the opportunity to change, to grow, and to contribute to society. We cannot allow algorithms to limit or condition respect of human dignity, or to exclude compassion, mercy, forgiveness and, especially, openness to hope of change of the individual.”
The Franciscan Friar, 50, is a Doctor in Theology.
