I’ve previously written about the frequency with which false information generated by AI has started to give rise to professional discipline proceedings (and there is a new, horrorshow judgment just out – see Cork & Anor v Smith). However, I don’t remember the Pope ever previously saying anything directly related to my work. Yet here we are – Pope Leo XIV published ‘Magnifica humanitas’ yesterday and stresses the need to “approach artificial intelligence with vigilance”. He notes that “AI can imitate and simulate the person, but it does not possess a moral conscience, empathy, or affective, relational or spiritual capabilities”. He urges “clarity about responsibilities and accountability at every stage of the development process, focusing on adequate AI policies and legal frameworks, independent oversight, and user education”.
I am really struck by how similar the Pope’s comments are to the comments we’ve seen in the string of judgments arising from AI hallucinations e.g. the judgment in Cork & Anor v Smith notes that the junior lawyer involved, LA, “seems to have almost entirely outsourced the thinking process to the [AI] program” and that “there was a failure on [the senior lawyer’s] part to supervise LA and check the drafts properly”.
I was not expecting the Pope to issue guidance which could sensibly be rolled out across law firms, but – as he might say himself – wonders never cease!
You can read Cork & Anor v Smith here
Here’s a link to Magnifica humanitas.