At an August 26 UN meeting in Geneva, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations, took part in a discussion on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS): emerging technologies that allow artificial intelligence to operate weapons systems.
The archbishop began by reiterating Pope Francis’ remarks at the G7 Conference in June, in which the Pope called for an international moratorium on the developing tech. At the heart of the Pope’s argument was the belief that “no machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being.”
Expanding on this point, Archbishop Balestrero cited the advanced pace of technological advancements in regards to AI-controlled weapons systems, calling today’s battlefields the “testing grounds for more and more sophisticated weapons."
Archbishop Balestrero went on to explain that the Vatican is not opposed to researching the potential functions of autonomous weapons systems, but such research should be a means of weeding out systems that work contrary to International Humanitarian Law. This would also allow governing bodies to make ethical considerations to establish prohibitions and restrictions to their use.
“For the Holy See, autonomous weapons systems cannot be considered as morally responsible entities,” Archbishop Balestrero told the UN. “The human person, endowed with reason, possesses a unique capacity for moral judgment and ethical decision-making that cannot be replicated by any set of algorithms, no matter how complex.”
He went on to explain the difference between a “choice” and a “decision,” noting that machines can only produce an algorithmic “choice,” while a human being can make a much more informed “decision.” He quoted Pope Francis’ guidance on the matter:
“A decision is what we might call a more strategic element of a choice and demands a practical evaluation […] Moreover, an ethical decision is one that takes into account not only an action’s outcomes but also the values at stake and the duties that derive from those values.”
In his conclusion, Archbishop Balestrero said that the further development of sophisticated weaponry is “not the solution.” He noted technological advances only benefit humanity when they are used responsibly and ethically.
“The undoubted benefits that humanity will be able to draw from the current technological progress will depend on the degree to which such progress is accompanied by an adequate development of responsibility and values that place technological advancements at the service of integral human development and of the common good.”
