Review policies to ease impact on Nigerians, Archbishop Martins tells FG
The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaiye, has called on journalists, other media stakeholders and politicians to raise their voices for regulation of the use of Artificial Intelligence to protect humanity.
Ajakaye gave the charge in his sermon to mark the 58th World Communications Day held at St. Patrick Catholic Cathedral, in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The Bishop, who was represented at the occasion by the Vicar General, Rev. Fr. Felix Odesanmi, spoke on the theme: “Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart: Towards a Fully Human Communication,” noting that the AI is not entirely bad, but must not be allowed to replace humanity as done already in the Western world.
According to him, there are lots of dangers associated with Artificial Intelligence, saying all hands must be on the deck to ensure that the capitalists do not just take the world for granted because of financial gain.
Ajakaye said that even when AI is not in use in the country, there is mass unemployment, wondering what could happen if it is being deployed to replace humans in some establishments.
ALSO, the Archbishop of Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has urged the Federal Government to review its various policies, particularly those introduced since the inception of the current administration and take a more critical view of the impact the policies are having on the citizens.
He made the call, yesterday, during the 58th World Social Communications Day held at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos.
The Archbishop said any policy that is supposed to have a long-term effect but does not take cognisance of the present-day lives of citizens, must be reviewed in such a way that it will ensure people do not die while they are waiting for it to take effect.
Martins said the government should evaluate how the adverse effect of ‘otherwise good policies’ could be ameliorated, stressing that decisions and policies need to be constantly reviewed in line with the experiences that are being made available to them.
The Prelate said Nigerians must ensure they have a disposition that is necessary to take full advantage of AI and avoid the negative around that technological development.
He said the creators of the system of Artificial Intelligence must factor in the ethical concerns of people into their creation, noting that there must be some measures of oversight.
He added that any invention created by humans could be used for good or evil.
He, however, warned against idolising AI to the extent that people are wooed by its abilities that they are unable to recognise its shortcomings.
According to Martins, Pope Francis in his message believes the development of systems of Artificial Intelligence is radically affecting the world of information and communication, and through it, certain foundations of life in the society.
