The Technocratic Paradigm and AI
A Fight for Our Humanity
Humanity has always been defined by our ability to innovate, and the modern world, especially, is shaped by the advent of new technology: from smart phones and revolutionary medical technology to drones and interconnected webs of satellites, the tools that surround us enable our capability to mold the built environment. These advances in technology certainly help us meet challenges that once appeared impossible to overcome, and it is thus unsurprising that much of humanity sees technology as a gateway to a brighter future. But therein lies a potential fallacy in our thinking, that technology is a path to solve any and all problems before us. Indeed, it could be more than just misguided hope. Is society becoming reliant on technology in a way that is ultimately harmful? And what can we do as Catholics to ensure our future is guided by goodness?
The Technocratic Paradigm
In the 2015 encyclical Laudato si’, Pope Francis takes an iron-clad stance against what is termed the ‘technocratic paradigm’. The technocratic paradigm is a growing view among people, whether conscious or not, that sees all of reality as a raw material waiting for the use of humans. In other words, it is a way of seeing the world wherein all the problems we face simply require scientific and technological power in order to be solved, and that eventually we can, through technology, become powerful and wise enough to master all things. This view of reality should not be confused with science and technology themselves, for scientists and engineers throughout history have helped humanity through immense difficulties and continue to provide advancements whereby we can hope for new and exciting possibilities. In the words of John Paul II, “science and technology are wonderful products of a God-given human creativity”[1]. The technocratic paradigm, however, takes our relationship with technology to a level of abuse, raising them to a universal and unmatched regard as a path to salvation.
According to Laudato si, “this paradigm exalts the concept of a subject who, using logical and rational procedures, progressively approaches and gains control over an external object. This subject makes every effort to establish the scientific and experimental method, which in itself is already a technique of possession, mastery and transformation”. On one hand, the idea of science and technology being fundamentally grounded in logic is what makes it, in many individuals’ opinion, infallible. Economists, innovators, finance enthusiasts, and technology experts see the potential of unlimited growth: given that the scientific method and logic are continually and thoroughly applied, and innovation and technological advancement roots out and conquers any challenge awaiting us, there is no limit to what humanity can accomplish. On the other hand, this view of reality that is inextricably tied to logic exalts it as an ideology that cannot be challenged. If profit, innovation, and advancement logically lead to a better future, any other way of viewing the world is inconceivable. Living beyond the technocratic paradigm is now nearly impossible, for choosing a culture and view of reality that is independent of technology is difficult without the resources that globalization and advancements provide. Furthermore, even using technology is difficult without being absorbed by its internal structure of logic, technology that “in the most radical sense of the term power is its motive – a lordship over all”[2]. The result of this is clear according to Pope Francis: “Our capacity to make decisions, a more genuine freedom and the space for each one’s alternative creativity are diminished.”
AI – Poster Child of the Technocratic Paradigm
The culmination of the technocratic paradigm is Artificial Intelligence, and with it bears the most exciting potential at the core of the technocratic paradigm’s motivation but also, perhaps, the greatest evil yet to come of it. AI technology is not exactly brand new, but since the arrival of generative AI in the form of ChatGPT in December of 2022, the world has taken a dramatic shift. The benefits of AI development are undefinable. Its capability of advancing research, knowledge, healthcare, and productivity is unlike any technological innovation in history, except, perhaps, the likes of language and electricity. For those subscribing to the technocratic paradigm, this is enough to warrant the immediate and untamed investment into AI’s growth – in fact, global private investment into AI could reach $200 billion by 2025[3]. GDP could soar, all earthly problems could be solved, knowledge and wisdom could infinitely grow, and humanity could build its own form of heaven on Earth. For some, AI may even lead humanity to immortality.
AI-generated pictures and art, harvesting the collective creation of humanity towards consumption-oriented products amounting to no less than mass theft.
However, despite AI’s practically uncalculatable benefits, it comes with some very dark downsides. In the short term, we see it rearing its evil head with the loss of human jobs, with an estimated 300 million jobs being lost or diminished by the fast-growing technology[4]. There has been a loss, not a gain, of truth in the rise of deepfake videos, creating deepfake pornography and deepfake political propaganda that makes it nearly impossible for the average person to know what is real or what is fake. The same is true with AI-generated pictures and art, harvesting the collective creation of humanity towards consumption-oriented products amounting to no less than mass theft. And hundreds of billions of dollars are invested into AI innovation that could otherwise be used to help heal the pain of war, famine, disease, and other high-priority social issues that humanity faces every day.
In the long term, the wealth gap could widen unlike ever before with unequal access to AI. It could pose an existential threat to humanity comparable to that of nuclear war and pandemics, according to leading figures in the development of AI systems. And perhaps more metaphysically, it could degrade many of the things that make us human, such as the imposition of AI into the arts, humanities, and religion. Already, its primary purpose of productivity and consumption has led to AI training itself on human-created works without the consent of their artists and authors, so that the fields of art and writing are being swarmed with soulless recreations. But who are the losers here? They are the poor, the Earth’s environment, and creatives, not the technocrats and innovation enthusiasts, those that desire power. There is no wonder that despite the great dangers of AI, investment is accelerating, and development has long surpassed that of legislative and legal progress.
Algorithms must not be allowed to replace human values and we must be wary of a "technological dictatorship" threatening human existence.
Imago Dei vs. Imago Hominem
As a perfect manifestation of the technocratic paradigm, AI stands as a seriously dangerous threat to our earth, society, and our humanity – naturally, the Church and the faithful of the world hold a unique duty to stand up to the threat. Therefore, we shall have one duty: preserve our humanity and the natural world.
This duty has two facets. On one hand, we must ensure that the advancement of AI does not take away what it is that makes us human. This will need to be primarily done through the creation of protections such as regulations and guidelines that put human welfare first. As Pope Frances called for, algorithms must not be allowed to replace human values and we must be wary of a "technological dictatorship" threatening human existence.
As outlined in the Rome Call for AI Ethics, we must demand:
1. Transparency: in principle, AI systems must be explainable;
2. Inclusion: the needs of all human beings must be taken into consideration so that everyone can benefit and all individuals can be offered the best possible conditions to express themselves and develop;
3. Responsibility: those who design and deploy the use of AI must proceed with responsibility and transparency;
4. Impartiality: do not create or act according to bias, thus safeguarding fairness and human dignity;
5. Reliability: AI systems must be able to work reliably;
6. Security and privacy: AI systems must work securely and respect the privacy of users.
Being Human
While this is not yet being enforced, we must do what we can to speak up for these values – reach out to your local and national government leaders; promote organizations seeking ethical advancement and use of AI technology; and, perhaps most importantly, support your neighbors by investing time and money in human-based creativity and work.
There is, however, the second facet of our duty to uphold our humanity: retaining our understanding of what it means to be human. I shall have to expound upon this in another article, but a serious challenge we will face is the advancement of AI to a level wherein it equals or even surpasses certain characteristics of what we believe makes us human. Sooner than later, AI will pass the Turing Test – that is, a machine’s ability to exhibit intelligent behavior indistinguishable from that of a human. The full implications of this turning point are incomprehensible, but it is foreseeable that the question of what it means to be human, to be conscious, or to even have a soul will be questioned. Alas, this will be a truly difficult task, but perhaps only the Church and the world’s faithful will be able to realistically go to bat for humanity. When there are technocrats claiming their creation has a soul, who but the Church will be able to stand as guidance as to whether it has a soul or not?
One thing is certain: though AI may pass the Turing test, it will always be made in the image of Man, Imago Hominem, not the image of God, Imago Dei, and it will shine through.
Adam and Eve passed the “Turing Test of God” by eating the apple of good and evil. We were indeed made in the image of God, yet God still knew full well that they were no such thing. In a similar way, AI may pass our Turing Test of Man, but the Church and the world’s faithful will know that is made in Man’s image.
The near future is uncertain, and the technocratic paradigm is on the rise. But in our fellow human we must hold our commitment, and in God we must stand firm in faith.
By Jack Heitman
Jack T. P. Heitman is an American writer who lives in Scotland after having attended the University of Edinburgh. He enjoys the pursuit of wisdom in storytelling, philosophy, linguistics, and history, and his goal is to inspire others through the written word. See him on X @jack_heitman.
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