Magnificent Humanity

Introducing the new Leo, identical to the previous one:On Monday, Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical, "Magnificas Humanitas," discussing how humanity can utilize the tools of AI to promote good and divine purposes, as well as how we can protect ourselves from its most harmful consequences. True followers know that Pope Leo's choice of name is almost certainly a nod to Pope Leo XIII, who guided the church through the turbulent times at the end of the 19th century, during the industrial revolution (and wrote one of myfavorite prayersafter experiencing a vision from Satan, Leo predicted that the next 75 to 100 years would bring significant challenges for the church becausethe devil's interference). It's probable that our current pope views his position in the same way.

"Technology has the ability to heal, bring people together, educate, and safeguard our shared planet; however, it can also create division, exclude individuals, and lead to new types of inequality," writes Pope Leo XIV inthe new encyclical. "In theory, technology by itself is not a cure for humanity's issues, nor is it inherently bad. In reality, though, technology is never impartial, as it adopts the traits of those who create, fund, regulate, and utilize it. Therefore, the main decision is not whether to say 'yes' or 'no' to technology, but rather whether to build Babel or"rebuilding Jerusalem; between a force that asserts control over the skies and a community that collaborates in God's presence to restore the walls of brotherly unity.

Similar to many encyclicals, there will be much for libertarians to find objectionable (for instance, "more than ever, in the era of AI and robotics, it is no longer feasible to depend solely on the 'invisible hand' of the market"). Although he acknowledges that "technology, by itself, should not be seen as a force opposing humanity," Leo XIV points out that "the quest for higher profits cannot justify decisions that consistently put jobs at risk." (Libertarians may hold differing views on his claim that "the economic system must remain under the control of human dignity and the common good," depending on their religious perspectives.) He accurately predicts that "a society that offers employment to only a small portion of its population, even with advanced technology, risks leaving many without purpose, responsibility, and daily tasks, leading to human and cultural decline," but it's unclear how this ("the Church's Social Doctrine emphasizes that ensuring work for everyone must be a top priority for public policies and economic systems") translates into real-world application. Still, his goal isn't to create specific policies; rather, he aims to offer moral guidelines that can assist policymakers in understanding their objectives.

In certain regions, libertarians may find themselves frustrated, but my more flexible libertarian perspective has no issue with his conclusions: "The more subtle types of addiction associated with the 'digital attention economy' should not be overlooked, as platforms and services are frequently created to seize users' time and focus, taking advantage of their weaknesses and diminishing their internal freedom. When business strategies profit from human frailty, individuals are viewed as a means rather than an end; those who create or fund these systems have a moral obligation that must not be disregarded. There is an immediate need to develop technologies that enhance inner freedom by promoting education in digital self-control and safeguarding young people, thereby opposing models that take advantage of vulnerability."

Then he appropriately cautions against social credit and extensive monitoring: "Another risk, though less noticeable, is just as significant: the possibility of social control enabled by the large-scale gathering of data and application of algorithmic systems. When every action—movements, purchases, relationships, and preferences—leaves a record, a new kind of power arises, specifically the ability to profile, predict, and shape behavior, often without people realizing it fully." (My guyDavid Brinis a worthwhile read on this.) Also: "Power is applied not solely through direct bans, but also through the structure of observation: what is highlighted or concealed, what is encouraged or punished, ultimately influences perspectives and decisions, promoting agreement and self-restraint."

Later, Pope Leo quotes Lord of the Rings Author and Catholic J.R.R. Tolkien stated, "It is not our responsibility to control every wave of the world, but to perform what we can for the benefit of the times in which we live, removing the wickedness in the areas we understand, so that those who come after us may have fertile ground to cultivate."

"The culture of love will not emerge from one grand or dramatic act, but from the accumulation of small and consistent acts of loyalty that act as a defense against dehumanization," says Leo. Feel free toread the whole thingif the urge takes you, or access theClaude summary hereif you're running low on time (and/or tolerance for us Catholics).

Renewed tensions with Iran: The U.S. Central Command states that U.S. forces carried out defensive attacks in southern Iran yesterday, in response to threats from an opposing force during a delicate truce.

A high-ranking U.S. military representative stated that Iranian surface-to-air missiles posed a threat to several dozen American fighter jets and almost two dozen Navy warships—comprising two aircraft carriers and their supporting vessels—that are stationed in or near the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, upholding a blockade on ships attempting to enter or exit Iranian ports,reports The New York Times. "The official stated that the U.S. attacks occurred close to Bandar Abbas, a significant port and Iranian naval base." It's possible this latest series of strikes—which Iran has promised to retaliate against—will not go unaddressed—will stop the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Scenes from New York: This has now become a Knicks fan area. Excellent match last night!

I'm fond of all this material fromthe gathering at Radio City for watching the event. Beautiful.

QUICK HITS

・"A federal judge on Friday dropped the Justice Department's"human-smuggling caseagainst Kilmar Abrego García, stating that the Trump administration had wrongly initiated it to penalize him for successfully contesting his unlawful deportation last year,reports The Washington Post. U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr., based in Tennessee, stated that 'the evidence presented to this Court sadly shows a misuse of prosecutorial power.' The ruling marked a significant setback for the administration, which utilized the resources of several federal agencies to publicly criticize Abrego following court decisions that determined officials had...unlawfully deported himto his home country of El Salvador, in breach of a 2019 immigration court ruling.

・Kind of insane:

・"As the Iran conflict disrupts energy supplies and unsettles global economies, Saudi Arabia is earning billions in additional oil income and advancing its goals to emerge as a trading center,"reports Bloomberg. "Even while the war hasslowedEconomic expansion has led to a rise in defense and logistics expenditures, while increasing oil prices along with preparedness strategies have increased income. At the same time, the kingdom's Red Sea coastline has become a key route to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely inaccessible for trade since the conflict started. "Saudi Arabia has demonstrated that it is the essential Red Sea buffer," said Hesham Alghannam, a scholar based in Riyadh at the Malcolm H Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center.

・He's not wrong:

・Parenting a young child that's somewhat endearing:

The post Magnifica Humanitas appeared first on .