As enterprises increasingly look to artificial intelligence (AI) to support, speed up, or even supplant human decision-making, calls have rung out for AI's use and development to be subject to a higher power: our collective sense of right and wrong. One such entity weighing in on the need for AI ethics is the Vatican, which exactly three years ago, on Feb. 28, 2020, brought together representatives from Microsoft and IBM to first sign the Rome Call for AI Ethics, a commitment to develop AI that serves humanity as a whole. This ethical commitment, which brings together high-tech and religious leadership, as well as universities and government entities, was renewed in January 2023, with representatives of the Muslim and Jewish faiths joining alongside the Vatican. In many ways, the Rome Call is symbolic, enforcing principles that many IT vendors and enterprises are already undertaking around AI's use and development. But it also raises the profile of an emerging issue that has real impact on people around the globe -- something CIOs must consider in their approaches to AI.

The University of Florida, a proponent for ethics in artificial intelligence, is part of a new global agreement with seven other worldwide universities that are committed to the development of human-centered approaches to artificial intelligence (AI) that will impact people everywhere. During the Global University Summit at Notre Dame University, Joseph Glover, UF provost and senior vice president of academic affairs, signed The Rome Call for AI Ethics on October 27 on behalf of the University of Florida and served as a panelist for the two-day summit attended by 36 universities invited from around the world. The event was held in Notre Dame, IN. The signing indicates a commitment to the principles of the Rome Call for AI Ethics: to ensure artificial intelligence serves the interests of humanity and to support regulations and principles to deliver emerging technologies that are ethically centered. UF joins a network of universities that will share best practices, tools, and educational content, as well as meet regularly to share updates and discuss innovative ideas.

Universities around the world are taking steps alongside major technology companies to explore ways to bolster ethics education in the artificial intelligence field in line with an initiative supported by the Vatican. The effort seeks to help those already working or aspiring to work in the tech fields understand that the development of artificial intelligence, or AI, should benefit humanity rather than pose uncontrollable challenges to human life. Participants at a global summit at the University of Notre Dame Oct. 25-26 explored ways to encompass ethics education in coursework with speakers calling for widespread integration in both technical and nontechnical curricula. Casey Fiesler, associate professor of information science at the University of Colorado, told in person and online attendees in a session that the long-held view that ethical topics are a "specialization" within technology education must be put aside. "We should not be teaching ethics in the context of computing so that it is completely separate from everything else that we are doing," Fiesler said in calling for a culture shift in higher education that can reach across society.

ROME, Mar 8 2021 (IPS) - One year after the call for a group of international and religious organizations and important multinational companies to incorporate ethics into the design of artificial intelligence (AI), Pope Francis said in a tweet: "I hope that more and more people of good will cooperate in the promotion of the common good, the protection of those lagging behind and the development of a shared algor-ethics". The message of the Catholic pontiff, on 28 February, was related to the Call of Rome, which seeks to actively incorporate ethics in artificial intelligence based on a transparent, inclusive, socially advantageous and responsible process. The document, "Rome Call for Artificial Intelligence Ethics", was launched on 28 February 2020 by the Pontifical Academy for Life, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Microsoft and IBM, with the endorsement of the Italian government. According to Paglia, it is necessary to build a new alliance between research, science and ethics "to build a world in which technology is in favor of the people" because "without equitable and just development" there can be no justice or peace. The Rome Call invites governments, institutions and the private sector to adopt a common responsibility in order to ensure that digital innovation and technological progress are at the service of human creativity.

The Pontifical Academy for Life, Microsoft, IBM, FAO, the Italia Government, signed as first the "Call for an AI Ethics", a document developed to support an ethical approach to Artificial Intelligence and promote a sense of responsibility among organizations, governments and institutions with the aim to create a future in which digital innovation and technological progress serve human genius and creativity and not their gradual replacement Ethics – All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Education – Transforming the world through the innovation of AI means undertaking to build a future for and with younger generations. Rights – The development of AI in the service of humankind and the planet must be reflected in regulations and principles that protect people – particularly the weak and the underprivileged – and natural environments. AI-based technology must never be used to exploit people in any way, especially those who are most vulnerable. Instead, it must be used to help people develop their abilities (empowerment/enablement) and to support the planet.