NOTRE DAME, Ind. (WISH) – The largest grant ever awarded to the University of Notre Dame by a private foundation will be used to develop an ethical approach to artificial intelligence.  The Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded Notre Dame $50.8 million to support the DELTA Network, an initiativ e the university launched in September to find ways of using faith-based principles to navigate AI ethically.  “Notre Dame is well-positioned to build bridges between religious leaders and educators, and those creating and using new technologies, so that they might together explore the moral and ethical questions associated with AI,” University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd said in a statement.  Artificial intelligence remains largely unregulated. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Dec. 11 aimed at blocking AI regulations at the state level. Congress previously considered a proposal to freeze state-level AI regulations, and wipe out existing rules on deepfakes and other uses. The DELTA Network aims to create “practical resources” for the public to rely on when considering appropriate uses of artificial intelligence.  The university plans to design programs catered to young adults, develop hubs in the communities leading the way in the tech industry, like Silicon Valley and Northeast United States, and organize events and retreats for tech leaders and the public to discuss DELTA principles.  Pope Leo XIV has publicly raised concerns about how artificial intelligence is developed, used, and consumed. “This requires coordinated and concerted action involving politics, institutions, businesses, finance, education, communication, citizens, and religious communities,” Pope Leo said at a Dec. 5 conference on AI, according to Vatican News.  DELTA gets its name from the values it’s attempting to bring to the forefront of the AI conversation: Dignity, Embodiment, Love, Transcendence, and Agency. Notre Dame said the network will be made up of “communities of practice” in education, ministry, and public engagement.  “Here at Notre Dame, we’re committed to shaping public thought about how humans can flourish in an AI-driven world by drawing upon our Catholic and Christian tradition,” said Meghan Sullivan, founding director of Notre Dame’s Institute for Ethics and the Common Good. “Given the monumental impact that AI will have on our lives, this work is more vital than ever.” While based on Christian values and traditions, the university said the DELTA Network “is designed to be accessible to people of all faith perspectives.” ...read more read less