Description

The Catholic Church has entered the AI debate, with Pope Leo XIV warning against "digital slaveries" while seated beside the co-founder of Anthropic. We ask whether the Vatican is positioning itself as a moral counterweight to Silicon Valley — and whether religion could shape the future of AI. Google says AI-generated answers are the future of search, replacing the familiar list of blue links with chatbot-style summaries. Critics argue it risks killing source literacy and turning the internet into a machine-generated feedback loop. And if smart glasses weren't enough, smart contact lenses may be next. We look at the push toward invisible wearable tech — and the privacy concerns already following close behind. GUESTS: Tegan Jones, Deputy Editor at SmartCompany and Co-host of Weird Tech Gianfranco Di Giovanni, ABC Radio Perth content director and an arts, gaming and tech reporter. ------------ This episode was produced on the lands of the Gadigal and Burramattagal people. ------------ Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at downloadthisshow@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Download This Show on the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Summary

This discussion highlights the Vatican's increasing involvement in AI governance, specifically Pope Francis's warnings against 'digital slaveries' alongside leadership from frontier lab Anthropic. The content explores the Catholic Church's attempt to provide a moral and ethical framework for AI development to prevent dehumanization and societal harm. While primarily focused on ethics and human rights, the inclusion of Anthropic's co-founder connects these moral concerns to the safety culture of major AI developers. The episode reflects a global trend of seeking external value-based guardrails for frontier AI capabilities beyond traditional technical or state-based regulation.

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