Paolo Benanti

Friar Paolo Benanti is an Italian Franciscan friar of the Third Order Regular and a moral theologian specializing in the ethics of technology, with a focus on artificial intelligence, bioethics, and the anthropological implications of digital innovation. With a background in engineering and a doctorate in moral theology, Benanti has dedicated his career to the study of technology ethics, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that artificial intelligence enriches people's lives. His doctoral dissertation on cyborg corporeality in the posthuman era earned him the Belarmino-Vedovato Award at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he serves as a professor teaching neuroethics, AI, and posthumanism.

Benanti's expertise in AI ethics and technology policy is recognized globally, with influence extending from the Vatican to Silicon Valley and the United Nations. He serves as the Vatican's primary advisor on AI technology, working closely with Pope Francis and leading engineers and executives in the tech industry. Benanti is a member of the United Nations Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence and leads an Italian government commission focused on safeguarding journalism from fake news and disinformation. He has contributed to the formation of Italy's national strategy for AI and chairs the Ethics Committee for the AI Observatory in the World of Labor under the Ministry of Labor.

A key figure in global AI governance, Benanti played a central role in developing the "Rome Call for AI Ethics," an ethical framework signed by Microsoft, IBM, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Pontifical Academy for Life, as well as nearly 70 organizations worldwide. Benanti coined the term "algorethics," first introduced in his book "Oracles: Between Algorethics and Algocracy," to describe the convergence of ethics and algorithms. This concept addresses the need for machines to incorporate human ethical values as they gain agency and decision-making capabilities.

Benanti is an author and public intellectual whose work spans theology, philosophy, and technology. His publications include "Homo Faber: The Techno-Human Condition," "Noi e la macchina: Un'etica per l'era digitale," "Postumano, troppo postumano: Neurotecnologie e human enhancement," and "Le macchine sapienti: Intelligenze artificiali e decisioni umane." He regularly contributes opinion pieces to Italian newspapers. Benanti's public engagements have included speaking at major international forums such as TED and the Ethics & Tech Conference at Seattle University, where he received recognition for his contributions to the "Rome Call for AI Ethics."

Central to Benanti's work is the philosophical question: What is the difference between a man who exists and a machine that functions? He advocates for a human-centered approach to artificial intelligence, emphasizing that AI systems must serve human dignity and societal well-being. Benanti's combination of technical expertise, theological insight, and experience with global institutions positions him as a leading voice in discussions about the future of technology and humanity.