Dr. Helen Titilola OLOJEDE

We shall continue from where we stopped in our discussion of Pope Leo’s new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, which has received significant attention in the world. If you missed the previous discussion, please go back and read up for context.

Chapter four - Safeguarding humanity at a time of transformation – truth, work, freedom, Noteworthy is the Pope’s apology for past slavery, the new form of colonialism in the crass extraction of various forms of modern-day slavery, and where mostly women and other vulnerable groups like children and adolescents are victims in the form of “data labelling, model training and content moderation, often involving disturbing material” (173) and other harsh working conditions.

Chapter five - The culture of power and the civilisation of love highlight the outdated nature of the ‘just war’ theory with no prejudice to the right to self-defence. It emphasizes the need to choose the Nehemiac culture of shared responsibility, where we can disarm our words to disarm the world and build a culture of love.

Beyond the chapters, what are some nuggets that stand out the most, especially in our context in the Global South?

1. Even today, colonialism assumes new forms. It no longer dominates only bodies, but appropriates data, transforming personal lives into exploitable information. Entire regions, especially those marked by structural fragility and limited geopolitical relevance, are currently subjected to a new mindset of extraction: that of health data, epidemiological profiles, genetic maps and demographic information (178).
2. A more moral AI is not enough if that morality is determined by a few. What is needed is a more active political involvement that is capable of slowing things down when everything is accelerating, and of protecting the opportunities for communities still to be able to participate and ask questions (107).
3. Finally, measures to ensure equity: taxation, social protection and industrial policies must correct the imbalances created by the concentration of wealth and power. Indeed, these criteria do not constitute a curb on innovation; instead they make it civilized and humane (164).

One of the major things that stood out to me in the document is that the word “women” was mentioned at least 21 times, and “man” and “woman” three (3) times. This, to me, is an indication of a Church sensitive to inclusion, which is central to the document’s message as it addresses the inequality and imbalance that artificial intelligence is causing in the world.

Further, if you are in doubt regarding the ongoing new form of technological/digital colonialism, I hope the Pope’s highlighting of it puts your doubts to rest.  Further, the Holy Father calls for our active participation in the current digital age. We should find our way to the table and make a meaningful impact.