During the last week of August of 2024, Friar Michael LASKY participated in the “PreCorsi Assisi,” a summer school for university students that was focused on the topic: “The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI).”
Friar Michael gave a lecture in the Upper Basilica of St. Francis that explored the ethics of St. Francis through the lens of the frescos in the basilica. Taking scenes from scripture and the life of St. Francis, Friar Michael demonstrated how the ethics found within the frescoes have formed Franciscans throughout the centuries, empowering them to transform social, political, and developmental crises into opportunities for the common good of all. This practical “hands on approach” lecture was then applied to contemporary issues of technology and AI. The session concluded with each participant sitting before a favorite fresco and placing themselves within the action of the scene.
During the summer months, Friar Michael offered online formation sessions to the staff of Franciscans International at the United Nations, connecting the work of human rights to Franciscan spirituality. In addition, Friar Michael gave an online lecture to a summer school for university students in the Czech Republic. The topic of the lecture was “The Economy of St. Francis.”
Friar Michael LASKY
