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Congress of Scholas Chairs reflects on challenges of AI
Scholars, politicians, businessmen and women, religious leaders, activists, and young people are gathering in Indonesia to reflect on “one of the great challenges of our time: how to ensure that artificial intelligence is at the service of human dignity, fraternity, and peace.”
By Christopher Wells
“Scholas Chairs” (Cátedras Scholas), global academic networks and collaborative spaces connecting universities and researchers through the Scholas Occurrentes movement, are hosting their eleventh International Congress in Indonesia this week, with the goal of inspiring concrete projects with a global impact.
The three-day Congress, from 4-6 September, is focussing on the question of “Artificial Intelligence and Human Sense”, seeking practical means to ensure that AI is used to promote human dignity, fraternity, and peace.
This year’s Congress is also commemorating the second anniversary of Pope Francis’ historic Apostolic Visit to Indonesia and the signing of the interfaith “Istiqlal Declaration” by the Holy Father and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar in Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque.
For their part, participants in the Scholas Chairs Congress will present their own Bali Declaration, “a shared commitment to continue promoting ethical, human-centred artificial intelligence oriented towards the common good.”
Humanity needs light and encounter
In a speech at the Congress, the secretary of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, Monsignor Indunil Janakaratne Kankanamalage, addressed the question of artificial intelligence and human meaning in the framework of two words – “light” and “encounter” – proposed by Pope Francis during the signing of the Itiqlal Document.
In view of Pope Leo’s encyclical Magnifica humanitas, Monsignor Kankanamalage spoke about the need of light from God, but also of the importance of encounter: encounter with the transcendent, with oneself, with others, and with nature or creation.
He asked what humanity is building with AI, recalling Pope Leo’s reminder that technology can be used for good or ill. Humanity, said Monsignor Kankanamalage needs a plurality of voices to find solutions that allow us to use artificial intelligence for the common good.
This, he continued, required ethical principles, including a commitment to human dignity and freedom; preservation of truth and of the inner life; strengthening the human relationships; education, justice, and inclusion; and solidarity and the common good.
Monsignor Kankanamalage concluded his address by saying that we must neither reject technology nor worship it, but instead use it to help foster encounters that “give meaning and light to our lives.”
“Our task”, he said, “is to ensure that artificial intelligence becomes not an instrument of domination, but an instrument of human flourishing. Not a substitute for encounter, but a means of strengthening encounter. Not a source of darkness, but a tool that helps us search for the light”.
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