Theologian from Eichstätt wins renowned prize for AI study!

Theologian from Eichstätt wins renowned prize for AI study!

What a wonderful success for the young scientist Alexandra Kaiser-Duliba! The theologian from the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt was awarded the “Cardinal Weather Prize of the Catholic Academy in Bavaria”. The prize, which is endowed with 1,500 euros, is awarded annually for outstanding achievements in the context of “Young Theology”. Kaiser-Duliba received the honor for her impressive doctoral thesis, which is entitled "Personalized - Depersonalized. Ethical assessment of the use of robotics and artificial intelligence in nursing based on Paul Ricœur's concept of the person." This reports katholisch.de.

In her dissertation, Kaiser-Duliba deals with the progressive integration of robotics and artificial intelligence into nursing and raises essential questions about ethical assessment. Your contribution is particularly valuable as the use of technology in the healthcare sector becomes increasingly important. The Catholic Academy in Bavaria has been awarding the prize annually since 2008 to excellent dissertations and habilitation theses in order to honor the achievements of Cardinal Friedrich Wetter.

An impressive career

Since October 2021, the native of Saarland has worked as a research assistant at the Professorship for Theological Ethics and at the Institute for Social Ethics ISE at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Lucerne. Her academic career began in 2014 with a degree in Catholic theology and sport in Saarbrücken, which she completed with honors. She then worked in various positions at several universities, including as a lecturer at the University of Koblenz-Landau and as a research assistant at Saarland University.

Kaiser-Duliba, who also focuses on the social implications of AI, reflects on important ethical questions that arise from the connection between technology and care. Their work contributes to the current discussion about the use of artificial intelligence, which is also being initiated by experts such as the Catholic theologian Anna Puzio. Puzio emphasizes that AI will not be able to replace humans and argues for a reassessment of the relationship between humans and technology from a Christian perspective - a discussion that is also of great interest to the Church. This conversation took place on January 15, 2023 and was published in Deutschlandfunk culture thematised.

The future of care with AI

The ethical assessment of AI technologies and their application in the care sector are at the center of Kaisers-Duliba's concerns. She emphasizes that the integration of learning systems can certainly bring advantages for church institutions. It is clear that the use of technology in the care sector raises not only practical but also profound ethical questions that require differentiated consideration.

Alexandra Kaiser-Duliba has not only received an important award with her dissertation, but has also initiated an important discussion that goes far beyond academic boundaries. Their valuable approaches to connecting ethics, theology and technology could be heard even more widely in the coming years.