VATICAN - Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, the Holy See's Permanent Observer to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva, stated during a discussion by a group of governmental experts that weapons controlled by artificial intelligence "should never be allowed to decide about the life of a human being."

Alessandro Di Bussolo - Vatican

For the Holy See, it is "imperatively necessary" to ensure a "legally binding instrument" prohibiting the use of so-called lethal autonomous weapons, and in the meantime, to "immediately impose a moratorium on their development and use." This was emphasized by Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, the Holy See's Permanent Observer to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva, in his address at the second session of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS), which is being held in Switzerland from August 26 to 30.

The Pope's address at the G7 meeting on artificial intelligence

Referring to Pope Francis's address on artificial intelligence, delivered on June 14 to the leaders of the G7 group gathered in Borgo Egnazia, Italy, Balestrero recalled that the Pope urged them to "reconsider the development and use of devices such as so-called lethal autonomous weapons, and ultimately to prohibit their use. This should begin with a firm and concrete commitment to introduce greater and more appropriate human control. No machine should ever be allowed to decide whether to take the life of a human being." According to the prelate, however, today's battlefields are "also becoming a testing ground for increasingly sophisticated weapons."

Autonomous weapons are not morally responsible entities

The Holy See, the Archbishop continued, supports the approach of the expert group "to analyze the potential functions and technological aspects of autonomous weapon systems," because identifying systems "incompatible with international humanitarian law and other existing international obligations" could be very useful in establishing prohibitions and restrictions "with regard to broader ethical aspects." According to the Holy See, the Permanent Observer clarified, "autonomous weapon systems cannot be considered morally responsible entities." A human being, endowed with reason, "possesses a unique capacity for moral judgment and ethical decision-making, which cannot be replicated by any set of algorithms, no matter how complex." The delegation of the Holy See therefore appreciates the references to "appropriate control" and "human judgment" in the "draft text," which was prepared as a basis for discussion at the meeting, although it also calls for "greater clarity and a uniform understanding of these concepts."

A machine chooses, a person decides with their heart.

Mons. Balestrero therefore highlighted the difference between "choice" and "decision." In his address at the G7 summit in Borgo Egnazia, the Pope emphasized that machines only execute algorithmic technical choices, and he reminded us that "man, however, not only chooses, but is capable of making decisions in his heart." And this is a more strategic element than choice, because it requires practical evaluation. Furthermore, Pope Francis continued, "an ethical decision is one that takes into account not only the results of an action, but also the values at stake and the obligations that arise from it." The Archbishop, still quoting the Pope's address, reiterated that for the Holy See, it is essential "to ensure and protect space for appropriate human control over choices made by artificial intelligence programs: this is essential for human dignity itself."

Technological progress should serve the common good

The Vatican representative further emphasized that there is a growing "awareness of the ethical concerns raised by the use of artificial intelligence as a weapon." This was evident in the fact that at a recent conference, "Humanity at a Crossroads: Autonomous Weapon Systems and the Challenge of Regulation," held in Vienna on April 29 and 30, 2024, ethical considerations were given a significant role. And finally, he reminded us that "the development of increasingly sophisticated weapons is certainly not the solution." As Francis writes in the encyclical *Laudato si'*, the benefits that humanity will derive from current technological progress will depend on "to what extent this progress is accompanied by a proportionate development of responsibility and values, which will enable technological progress to serve integral human development and the common good."

vaticanews.va / gnews.cz-roz_07