The Vatican released new AI Guidelines in a “note” addressing the ethical and anthropological implications of artificial intelligence (AI).
Newsroom (01/28/2025 09:05, Gaudium Press) The new document highlights distinctions between human and artificial intelligence and offers guidelines meant to ensure that the development and use of AI serve humanity and uphold human dignity.
Vatican AI Guidelines Address Human Dignity
The Vatican AI guidelines, released in a new document titled Antiqua et Nova, emphasize the ethical and moral implications of artificial intelligence while distinguishing between human and machine intelligence. Signed by Cardinal Víctor Fernández and Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, the Vatican AI guidelines urge AI development to respect human dignity, promote the common good, and uphold Catholic social teaching.
Human vs. Artificial Intelligence
The document highlights the fundamental difference between human intelligence, which is a gift from God, and AI, which operates through algorithms and pattern recognition. While AI can simulate human cognitive tasks, it lacks creativity, spirituality, and moral discernment. The Vatican warns against viewing AI as an equal or superior form of intelligence, stressing that it must always remain a tool serving humanity.
Ethical Concerns of AI
The Vatican AI guidelines outline several risks associated with AI, including:
- Disrupting the labor market and replacing human workers.
- Weakening personal relationships by reducing human interaction.
- Eroding privacy through surveillance technologies.
- Spreading misinformation in education and media.
- Weaponizing AI in warfare, with the potential for autonomous lethal actions.
Given these challenges, the Vatican calls for strong ethical oversight to ensure AI serves the dignity of every human being and does not exacerbate inequality or power imbalances.
AI Must Serve the Common Good
The Vatican AI guidelines emphasize that AI must be developed for the benefit of all, not just for corporate or national interests. The document highlights:
- Respect for human dignity: AI must not judge human worth based on cognitive ability or efficiency.
- Subsidiarity: Decision-making on AI policies should involve a broad spectrum of society, not just tech corporations.
- Human accountability: Developers and policymakers must remain responsible for AI’s impact.
- Promoting solidarity: AI should work to reduce inequality, not reinforce existing power structures.
Efficiency over Human Dignity
Pope Francis has frequently warned against technological determinism, where AI development prioritizes efficiency over human dignity. He has described this as the “technocratic paradigm”, urging a human-centered approach instead.
The document concludes with the “wisdom of the heart”, emphasizing that:
- True wisdom integrates human intellect with moral discernment.
- AI should foster solidarity, truth, and human flourishing.
- Technology alone cannot solve ethical dilemmas without spiritual and moral guidance.
Vatican AI Guidelines: Global Ethical AI Development
This latest document follows Pope Francis’ recent AI guidelines for Vatican City, which establish ethical standards for AI within the Vatican State. The Holy See has also hosted global conferences on AI ethics, reinforcing its commitment to responsible AI governance.
As the world navigates AI’s rapid development, the Vatican AI guidelines serve as a moral compass, reminding humanity that technology must always serve the dignity and rights of every person.
Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
