Francis met with native officers and dignitaries from rich city-states on the finish of his Asia-Pacific tour.
Throughout his go to to Singapore, Pope Francis warned of the adverse affect of synthetic intelligence (AI) on society and known as for “truthful” wages for migrant staff.
The Catholic Church chief made the feedback on Thursday because the high-tech city-state turned the ultimate cease on his 12-day Asia-Pacific tour.
Technological developments have the potential to isolate people and entice them in false realities, Frances mentioned, including that synthetic intelligence ought to be used to convey folks nearer collectively and promote understanding and solidarity inside societies.
He additionally warned that synthetic intelligence shouldn’t make folks overlook what issues: human connections.
This isn’t the primary time the 87-year-old pope has expressed his views on synthetic intelligence. In June, he known as for a ban on “deadly autonomous weapons” in a speech to the leaders of the G7’s prime industrial democracies on the G7 summit in Italy.
In rich Singapore, Pope Francis additionally known as for truthful wages for overseas staff, saying “particular consideration” ought to be paid to “defending the dignity of migrant staff”.
“These staff have made an enormous contribution to society and deserve truthful wages,” he mentioned in an deal with to native political leaders and dignitaries.
Low cost labor performed an essential position within the speedy growth of glittering metropolises reminiscent of Singapore.
In keeping with authorities information in December 2023, 1.1 million foreigners in Singapore with work permits earned lower than S$3,000 (US$2,300) a month.
The determine consists of 286,300 home staff and 441,100 development, shipyard and manufacturing staff. Most of them come from Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Advocates say they lack satisfactory safety towards exploitation and generally endure poor dwelling situations, however the authorities denies the accusations.
Migration Financial Humanitarian, a Singaporean NGO that gives providers to migrant staff, welcomed the pope’s remarks, saying they “utterly agree” together with his name for truthful wages.
In keeping with the Worldwide Labor Group, there are an estimated 170 million migrant staff worldwide, accounting for about 5% of the worldwide workforce.
Singapore is the final cease on the pope’s whirlwind tour, which has taken him to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and East Timor. In East Timor, he celebrated Mass for 600,000 trustworthy, almost half of the nation’s inhabitants.
In keeping with the Vatican, about 176,000 of Singapore’s almost 6 million residents are Catholic.
A mass will probably be held at Singapore’s Nationwide Stadium on Thursday afternoon, anticipated to draw about 55,000 folks.
Al Jazeera’s Patrick Howe reported exterior the venue that Catholics in Singapore had been “very excited and blissful” to obtain the pope.
Folks from throughout the area traveled to the city-state to attend the occasion, together with folks from Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines, he added.
Francis will fly again to Rome on Friday.
