Vatican Warns of Dangers of AI

 A new Vatican missive approved by Pope Francis has warned of the dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI) while also stressing that ultimately, it is human intelligence that will guide the morality of its use, the Christian Today website reports today (Feb.2, 2025). 

The result of a collaboration between the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education, and drawing on a number of recent addresses by the pontiff, Antiqua et Nova: Note on the relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence exhorts "those entrusted with transmitting the faith" as well as "those who share the conviction that scientific and technological advances should be directed toward serving the human person and the common good" to remain aware of the  distinction between human intelligence and AI. 

Calling AI a "part of the collaboration of man and woman with God," the missive quotes Pope Francis in warning that "the very use of the word 'intelligence' in connection to AI can prove misleading." 

"In light of this, AI should not be seen as an artificial form of human intelligence, but as a product of it," the document states. 

It then talks of the vast potential AI has for assisting human endeavors, but also warns of its potential for harm in the absence of moral guidance.

"As in the areas where humans are called to make decisions, the shadow of evil also looms here," it said. 

Pope Francis has been one of the most high--profile subjects of the use of AI to generate deepfake images, with images of him in a bomber jacket and resembling a rapper or locked in an embrace with U.S. celebrity Madonna going viral and generating headlines around the world. This has left him uniquely suited to speak on the threat if fake news. 

"AI--generated fake media can gradually undermine the foundations of society," the statement reads. 

"Unlike many other human inventions, AI is trained on the results of human creativity, which enables it to generate new artefacts with a skill level and speed that often rival or surpasses human capabilities, raising critical concerns about its impact on humanity"s role in the world," the pope said.