Pope Francis is first pontiff to address G7 leaders with AI speech

• "The holy scriptures say that God gave to human beings his spirit in order for them to have wisdom, intelligence and knowledge in all kinds of tasks," he said. "Science and technology are therefore extraordinary products of the potential which is active in us human beings."

Context: AI has been on the pope's radar for years.

• In 2020, Catholic leaders presented Pope Francis with a proposal related to AI ethics, education and rights.
• Later that year, he prayed that AI will be beneficial for humanity.
• "We pray that the progress of robotics and artificial intelligence may always serve humankind," his November 2020 intention said.

Zoom in: AI could help democratize access to knowledge, advance scientific research and make machines carry out demanding human tasks, Pope Francis said on Friday.

• "But at the same time," he added, "it could bear with it more injustice between advanced countries and developing countries, between dominant social classes and oppressed social classes, thus endangering the possibility of a culture of encounter."
• He encouraged the leaders to reflect on what he called "first and foremost a tool."

Catch up quick: G7 leaders this year largely face low approval ratings.

• Finding themselves below 40% are U.S. President Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.
• Far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, hosting the summit, proved to be the exception with an approval rating above 40%.

Between the lines: Pope Francis on Friday also hosted 105 entertainers from 15 countries including Whoopi Goldberg and Stephen Colbert to "establish a link" between comedians and the Roman Catholic Church,.

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