The Prime Minister evoked the concept of artificial intelligence as he delivered a Christmas message in Valletta on Thursday evening, insisting that nothing could replace love that came from the heart.
'We hear the phrase artificial intelligence often, and machines can now see to our needs without us telling them what we need,' he said. 'Machines have advanced, but we can still never programme a machine to love,' Dr Muscat said.
"This is the lesson for future generations," he said, adding the organ that distinguished people from machines was not the brain, but the heart.
As a small crowd braved the cold December weather to hear politicians and authorities deliver their Christmas message, Dr Muscat urged peace and acceptance.
'There are some who try to sow hatred at those who were different, but we needed to receive everyone,' he said.
Dr Muscat also thanked President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, who was delivering her final Christmas message as President.
"Our country is indebted to you," he said, adding that Ms Coleiro Preca still had much to offer.
President Coleiro-Preca used her allotted time during the "Milied Flimkien" event to invite students from St Thomas Moore to take the stage at the Triton Fountain.
Against a backdrop of the large Christmas crib in Valletta, three students read out a letter they had written to the President where they called for more blood and organ donors.
Donating could help give life, the three students said. Let us remember the gift of life is the best gift you can give to someone else, they added.
Ms Coleiro Preca then said Christmas was a holiday for everyone- not just Christians- because it encouraged altruism.
Speaking at the beginning of the event, Opposition leader Adrian Delia said there were people who waited for Christmas because it brought people together - yet some still felt alone. The sense of loneliness could be accentuated during the holiday season, he added.
Our obligation was that during Christmas, we show we can come together and bring others in unity, Dr Delia said.
Speaker Anġlu Farrugia also encouraged peace, saying our country was renowned for working towards peace worldwide. You can show disagreement while showing respect, Dr Farrugia said.
Archbishop Charles Scicluna echoed a similar message, saying we should be ambassadors of hope and of God’s love during Christmas time. “This Christmas should be one of solidarity,” he said.