The Pope’s AI Guy Is Worried About ‘Cartel’ Behavior Among Big Labs
wired ·
Father Paolo Benanti, an AI advisor to the Catholic Church, warns that major artificial intelligence laboratories are exhibiting cartel-like behavior by monopolizing the debate on technology governance. He argues that the current hysteria surrounding superintelligence and existential risks distracts from the urgent need for democratic regulation and public oversight. Benanti contends that framing AI as a godlike entity serves the self-interest of big tech companies, allowing them to exclude external voices from critical decision-making processes. Instead of focusing on speculative fears of human extinction, he advocates for establishing standards that ensure models remain under human control without stifling innovation. The priest criticizes the industry's tendency to present efficiency as the ultimate value, which risks reducing humans to mere optimization projects. He emphasizes that AI is fundamentally statistical computation rather than a divine force, urging society to reject technocratic logic in favor of ethical public discourse. This perspective aligns with recent teachings from Pope Leo XIV, who called for international collaboration and warned against geopolitical dominance in AI development. Ultimately, Benanti stresses that meaningful brakes and steering mechanisms must be established to preserve human agency over these powerful tools.
wired