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By Carlo Acutis and St Francis of Assisi

Carlo: We’ve both watched the world change drastically, and now it is nearing a world of rapid technological advancements. Myself (Saint Carlo Acutis) and Saint Francis of Assisi both agree the world needs to be informed. Heaven has sent us to deliver this message to warn the world of the growing problems of artificial intelligence, (AI) and social media in this technological revolution. Carlo: I’ve watched the advancements of technology, and I understand why you have a smartphone. They have become an essential part of everyone’s lives through using them to relax, learn, or be entertained. Along with this, AI and social media access has increased with you probably interacting with it on a daily basis. All use of AI and social media is bad like what the recent Pope Francis said in Laudato Si’ “technology itself is not the problem it’s just how we use it.” Now in this new digital age, AI has become an active decision maker in your daily lives. AI has made software development, analytics, and identifying critical diseases easier. Francis: However, Carlo, you also need to consider what AI does to the environment and how it can bring us further from God. Francis: From what Pope Francis has informed previously in heaven, these AI models use extensive amounts of power and electricity, being the fifth largest power consumer in the world, (Carlo has told me it is equivalent to one and half thousand hours of Netflix One minute of AI video generating take the same amount of water as 3 hours of Netflix). Additionally, massive amounts of land are required for the data centers, and manufacturing facilities which leech toxic chemicals into nearby ecosystems. This has disrupted the natural living patterns of animals and displaced them. Carlo: I know this is true; however Francis has forgotten to consider how AI benefits the environment. AI can be used for monitoring ecosystems, helping to preserve animal species, and having it do dangerous tasks for humans. The world needs to be able to use the power of AI for the greater good of the environment and consider the two-sided effects it creates. ENCYCLICAL HERE WHEN FOUND GOOD ONE Francis: (this will need to be heavily edited) But what about AI’s use in social media, polluting algorithms adding to the endless barrage of information pulling us further from God. Making us more feeble in spirit. What we need to do is take time from days to distance from algorithms and reflect on actions. Social Media Paragraph Carlo: These platforms make you unknowingly compare your life to others creating an unwanted desire for more and distracting you from appreciating what God has already blessed you with. Your constant phone scrolling and barrage of content hinders your ability to pray towards God as your mind does not take the time to slow down and reflect. On top of the effects on your mind, these social media platforms have begun to control your actions. Now, everyone’s identity is determined through engagement with these AI algorithms which seek to change you as a person making your behavior align more with online trends than your own values. Social media creates a push for material gains over true fulfillment and gratification causing a degradation of your mind. The issue that has come up with social media is its use by governments to gather information on the people. Instances since my death have occurred where social media has been used by governments to track protestors and monitor people based on their religion. This goes against the Catholic social teaching that everyone is sacred and should have privacy. Surveillance by the governments removes people’s dignity as what they do in private should only be known by themselves and God. Private companies have also used social media to track people’s opinions on topics and attempt to change those options. This goes against the churches belief that everyone is made in the image of God. Personal security and safety Francis: When I was last on earth private thoughts were only shared with yourself and God. The collection of people’s opinions and ideas without their knowledge directly violates Dignitatis Humanae, which says that men must have immunity from external coercion and psychological freedom to seek truth authentically. When a government starts persecuting people for their religion or another belief, the data which they are currently gathering will allow them to more easily persecute people with these beliefs. Conclusion: Technology has advanced since we were last on Earth, with the advent of social media and Artificial Intelligence changing how we receive and gather information. Artificial intelligence has its benefits, such as automating and quickening tasks, with uses such as monitoring ecosystems and speeding up coding, but at a great cost to the environment; using great amounts of water and land to manufacture the data centers, leeching toxic chemicals into the surrounding environment. Social media at its core doesn’t draw us away from God, allowing near instant communication with others, but again it is how we use it which does draw us away from god; people post themselves bragging about the material objects they have and potentially doing life risking trends such as consuming tide pods, which are laundry detergent capsules which could cause death The social media algorithms recommend us this which draws us away from God by not letting us appreciate what we have and relax. These technologies aren’t bad; it’s just how we use them. (Good but more deterministic langue could be used)