Pope’s artificial intelligence guru admits he doesn’t use AI
Cardinal Michael Czerny who leads an AI commission at the Vatican says he just hasn’t had time to try it out.
BERLIN — Cardinal Michael Czerny, who heads the Vatican's Commission on Artificial Intelligence, has admitted he does not currently utilize AI in his work, despite recently assuming a position aimed at engaging the Church with the AI revolution. The Pope's cardinal, formerly from the Czech Republic and Canada, was appointed by Pope Leo XIV in May to chair the Vatican's Inter-Dicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence.
During an interview on the Brussels Playbook Week Ender podcast, Czerny stated that he has not yet incorporated AI into his work due to lack of time. Despite being asked about any ethical reservations he may have regarding the technology, Czerny expressed his willingness to learn about AI and emphasized the importance of gaining personal experience with it to better understand its impact on humanity.
Czerny also called for greater clarity from European politicians and bishops in addressing the potential risks associated with frontier AI models that may compromise human control and oversight. He urged a collaborative dialogue between the Church and European governments to openly and creatively address these concerns. The Vatican's involvement in discussions on AI's future is growing, with the Vatican's AI adviser, Paolo Benanti, recently attending a meeting of tech executives organized by King Charles III in Scotland to discuss both the opportunities and risks associated with the technology.
Anne McElvoy, a Global Reporter for the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, hosted the interview on the WELT AI Summit in Berlin.
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