Connect with us

E-Business

Vatican Says AI Possesses ‘Shadow of Evil’, Calls for Careful Regulation

Published

on

Kindly share this post

The Vatican has issued new guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence (AI), warning about the potential for “the shadow of evil” in the technology, which it said offered “a source of huge opportunities but also profound risks.”

Vatican Says AI Possesses ‘Shadow of Evil’, Calls for Careful Regulation

AI can fundamentally make a positive contribution in various areas of societal life, according to a newly published document.

“Yet, as in all areas where humans are called to make decisions, the shadow of evil also looms here.”

In the new document meant to admonish the Catholic faithful, the church warned that the technology should be used to complement human intelligence, “rather than replace its richness.”

The document was approved by Pope Francis, who has repeatedly warned that the application of artificial intelligence should be grounded in ethical and moral considerations.

“In all areas where humans are called to make decisions, the shadow of evil also looms here,” the Vatican said in the paper.

It added, “The moral evaluation of this technology will need to take into account how it is directed and used.”

The paper “is a synthesis of a lot of the existing materials that have been developing organically over the last while,” drawing on Francis’s past statements and writings to look at A.I.’s effect on relationships, education, warfare and work, said the Rev. Paul Tighe, one of the people who worked on it.

The paper according to New York Times was written over six months by a Vatican team in consultation with various experts, including those in A.I.

In light of the dangers, the document with the Latin title “Antiqua et Nova” (Old and New), states that governments and international organizations should ensure AI is used for the benefit of all.

“This issue requires careful regulation, as misinformation — especially through AI-controlled or influenced media — can spread unintentionally, fuelling political polarization and social unrest,” the document warned.

However, the head of the Catholic Church frequently warns of the dangers of AI in public appearances and seeks to bring ethical concerns surrounding the technology to the forefront.

 

 

 


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

E-Business

Adobe Launches AI Video Tool to Compete with OpenAI

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Adobe yesterday released the first public version of an artificial intelligence tool that can generate video clips and revealed how much it will charge, but said it will not set pricing for major users such as studios until later this year.

The Firefly Video Model, as Adobe is calling the service, will compete against Sora, a model developed by ChatGPT creator OpenAI, and startup Runway, both of which currently offer video-generation services. Facebook owner Meta Platforms has also developed a video-generation AI model but has not given a timeline for when it will be released.

Adobe’s model differs from its rivals because it is geared toward generating clips that will fit into how film and television studios use Premiere Pro, its flagship video editing software.

To that end, many of the features that Adobe is emphasizing revolve around feeding existing shots into the video model and asking it to generate clips that fix or expand on shots that were taken on a real production set but that did not come out quite right.

Adobe said the service will generate five-second clips at 1080p resolution. While that is shorter than the clips of up to 20 seconds generated by OpenAI’s service, Adobe executives said the majority of individual clips in most productions are only three seconds.

Adobe said a user can generate 20 clips per month for $9.99 and 70 clips for $29.99. That compares with 50 videos for $20 per month with OpenAI’s plan at lower resolution and a $200 OpenAI plan that can handle longer, higher resolution videos.

Adobe is also working on a “Premium” pricing plan for studios and other high-volume video users and will release those pricing details later this year. Alexandru Costin, Adobe’s vice president of generative AI, said the company is working to generate 4K video and will remain focused on quality rather than longer clips.

“We actually think that great motion, great structure, great definition scheme, making the actual clip look like it was film, is more important than making a longer clip that’s unusable,” Costin told Reuters.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

GSMA Launches Innovation Fund to Boost AI Solutions in Emerging Markets

Published

on

Kindly share this post

GSMA Innovation Fund for Impactful AI has been unveiled, marking a significant initiative aimed at empowering small and growing enterprises in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) across Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific.

GSMA Launches Innovation Fund to Boost AI Solutions in Emerging Markets

This fund is designed to fos­ter AI-driven innovations that tackle critical socio-economic and climate challenges, helping underserved regions unlock the transformative potential of ar­tificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence has proven its ability to address pressing global issues, from pre­cision agriculture and renew­able energy to remote health­care and financial inclusion.

Yet, LMICs remain under­served in funding and resourc­es, with only a small percentage of global grants directed toward locally-developed AI solutions.

Despite the growth of AI-driven technologies, these advancements are often not tailored to the unique needs of local populations in LMICs.

The GSMA Innovation Fund seeks to close this gap by iden­tifying, testing, and scaling impactful AI solutions that are contextually relevant and capa­ble of delivering measurable socio-economic and climate benefits.

In partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), the GSMA Innovation Fund provides a comprehensive sup­port package to selected enter­prises. Key benefits include:

Grant Funding: Ranging from £100,000 to £250,000 for projects lasting 15–18 months.

Tailored Venture Support: Guidance to strengthen busi­ness models and improve scal­ability.

Partnership Opportunities: Facilitation of collaborations with mobile operators, public sector organizations, and other stakeholders.

Peer Learning: Platforms for exchanging knowledge and best practices with other innovators.

Visibility and Exposure: Access to GSMA’s global events, publications, and online plat­forms to connect with potential investors and partners.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

MRA Calls for Safer Internet User Rights in Nigeria

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Nigerian government to take legitimate measures to safeguard the rights and safety of internet users in the country.

MRA Calls for Safer Internet User Rights in Nigeria

In a statement released ahead of Safer Internet Day (SID), the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) called on the Nigerian Federal and State governments to take measures to protect internet users’ rights.

MRA highlighted the misuse of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, initially designed to address cybercrime threats.

According to MRA, the Act has been exploited by powerful individuals to intimidate journalists, activists, and citizens, undermining freedom of expression and cybersecurity.

Mr. Ayode Longe, deputy executive director, MRA, emphasised that these actions violate democratic principles and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations. He highlighted the SID theme “Together for a Better Internet” as a call for multi-stakeholder cooperation to create a safe and accessible online environment.

Longe noted Nigeria’s progress in digital technology adoption but pointed out persistent online threats, including scams, data breaches, and misinformation.

He stressed the need for legal frameworks that protect users’ rights without compromising their privacy or freedom of expression.

MRA urged the government to review the Cybercrimes Act to ensure it aligns with international human rights standards and to establish guidelines to prevent arbitrary prosecutions.

MRA also called for digital literacy initiatives and collaboration with tech companies to promote online safety.

Additionally, they urged the courts to protect Nigerians’ rights by rejecting unfounded cybercrime cases and ensuring fair application of the law.

Longe reiterated MRA’s commitment to defending digital rights and advocating for a free and open digital environment where everyone can access information and express themselves responsibly.

Together, stakeholders can create an internet where all users, regardless of age or background, can engage safely and freely.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending