Pope, academics call for 'Democratic AI' to counter tech monopolies and inequality

Pope Francis has urged communities to actively participate in shaping artificial intelligence, moving beyond passive acceptance of AI-driven decisions. He emphasized that communities, most affected by technological shifts, must have a say in AI's "decision-making structure," including data ownership, usage purposes, and operational principles. This approach aims for "Democratic AI," which involves citizens securing control over AI systems rather than just relying on post-AI profit redistribution.

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Communities should not be relegated to passive recipients of (artificial intelligence-related) decisions.

The Pope's message, delivered during a welcome for the Italian Catholic Guide and Scout Association, challenged the sufficiency of "ethical AI" and "inclusive AI." He cautioned that if even ethical standards are set by a few, it could solidify the dominance of unseen powers. He defined algorithms, digital platforms, and data as "common resources" akin to air and water, asserting they should not be under the control of a select few. Failure to do so, he warned, could lead to technology being used for domination, exclusion, manipulation, and destruction, exacerbating inequality.

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Moral AI is not enough.

Academics and politicians are echoing this call for democratic AI. MIT professor Daron Acemoglu, a Nobel laureate in economics, supports the Pope's stance, advocating for strong responses to platform monopolies, increased public investment in AI that complements human abilities, and guaranteed citizen and worker rights over data. He argues that individuals should know how their data is used, have the right to refuse its use for specific purposes, and that the benefits derived from public data should not be concentrated among a few.

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Algorithms, digital platforms, technological infrastructure, and data should be considered 'common resources' like water and air, and should not be under the control of a few.

Trevor Schwellnus, a professor at The New School, proposes platform cooperativism, suggesting that ethical AI declarations are insufficient without addressing the underlying "extractive stack" where a few companies profit. He advocates for independent trusts to manage citizen-generated data, cooperative and community-led AI model development using public infrastructure, and the ownership of platforms by workers and users. U.S. Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Bernie Sanders have also introduced principles for "Democratic AI," including regulating AI monopolies, ensuring stakeholder and worker participation in AI decision-making, implementing "data dividends," and holding companies financially responsible for data center impacts. Sanders plans to introduce legislation to reclaim 50% of major AI companies' shares as a sovereign wealth fund for citizens, to be used for public services and to grant citizens board representation in AI decision-making, arguing that AI is built on humanity's collective intelligence.

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What kind of technology is desirable depends on who controls it.