The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) has called for caution in the deployment of of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
National Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Rev. Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, made the plea on Sunday at the celebration of 2024 World Communication Day (WCD), themed, ‘Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart towards a fully Human Communication’, held at St. John Catholic Church in Mararaba, Lafia Diocese, Nasarawa State.
Umoh said that the Communications Week is an extension of the celebration of WCD, started in 1967 by Pope Paul VI.
He noted that the Church’s emphasis on responsible use of AI and media literacy is a crucial step in promoting a more inclusive and compassionate world.
“Though the programme officially ends today, the need for media education and especially exposure to knowledge about AI remains. Let us continue to honor this tradition by embracing media literacy not just for a week, but as an integral part of our lives.
“We must support our local media outlets in their efforts to spread the Good News and promote human values,” he said.
Delivering the homily at the event, the Catholic Bishop of Lafia Diocese, Bishop David Ajang, said that the theme of this year’s WCD, by Pope Francis, calls attention to the urgent need of understanding the revolutionary technology of AI and its impact on evangelisation, information and communication.
“The Church recognizes the power of media as gifts that can foster human progress and development, but also warns of their potential risks if not approached with discernment and responsibility,” Ajang said.
Also same day at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Daki Biu, Abuja, the Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, urged Nigerians, especially the youths to use AI, social media and other forms of social communication to spread values and virtues that promote common goods and not to promote immorality and crimes.
“As AI advances, the question remains to be answered: How can we remain fully human and guide this innovation for the greater good? Pope Francis urges us to set aside catastrophic predictions and engage them with openness and sensitivity.
“I call on our knowledgeable young people who use social media and other forms of social communication not to promote immorality and crime, but to spread those values and virtues that promote the common good and transform our world riddled with many social vices and anti-God policies and strategies.
“By integrating AI with wisdom and compassion, we can create a more authentic and empathetic world, without overstepping the realms of God. As technology advances, we must not lose sight of our humanity. This can have disastrous consequences,” Kaigama said.
