CSU politician Dorothee Bär, the Minister for Research, expressed mixed feelings regarding Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical on Artificial Intelligence. While fundamentally viewing the encyclical positively, she argued that the focus should be placed more heavily on the opportunities offered by AI rather than solely on the associated risks, according to newspapers of the Funke media group.
Dr. Bär stressed that AI could bring enormous advancements, particularly in healthcare, aiding in the early detection of diseases or accelerating the development of new medications. She stated her desire to foster optimism about AI “without obscuring the risks”. She also praised the Pope for addressing future challenges, rather than just dwelling on the past. She agreed wholeheartedly with his central message: that AI must serve humanity, not the reverse.
The Pope had raised concerns about the influence of global AI corporations and called for stricter regulation. When asked if she found current AI regulations sufficient, Bär replied that it is impossible to know the full scope of opportunities and challenges AI will present in the coming years. Despite her excitement for technological innovation, she warned against underestimating the risks and emphasized that legislation must be constantly adapted.
Regarding job losses spurred by AI development, Bär tried to alleviate immediate fears. She pointed out that the working world has always undergone transformation. She stressed that the key factors remain choosing a profession that brings joy and maintaining flexibility. “AI also creates new jobs” she asserted.
The Minister showed support for establishing age restrictions concerning digital service usage, agreeing that the discussion around setting age limits across digital spheres-whether for social media, chatbots, or computer games-is productive. However, she clarified that the primary responsibility for ensuring these limits are respected falls on the parents.
Finally, Dr. Bär called for AI systems to be developed that consume less energy. She urged a more targeted approach to research focused on creating energy-efficient and resource-saving AI. Simultaneously, she advocated for a stronger emphasis on nuclear fusion. She announced the launch of an application for three research hubs-laser fusion, magnetic fusion, and material research-in an area where significant global investment is already being made. Bär predicted that the first commercial fusion power plant would be operational “in the 2040s”.
