Vatican warns about artificial intelligence technology
The Vatican has issued a message warning about artificial intelligence technology and calling for global oversight of its development.
The Vatican on Tuesday, January 28, warned about the development of artificial intelligence, stating that this technology carries a "shadow of evil" due to its increasing ability to spread misinformation, and called on all governments to maintain global oversight of the development of artificial intelligence.
Pope Francis has focused on the ethical issues surrounding artificial intelligence in recent years. In June 2024, he said of AI technology at the G7 summit in Italy: “People should not let algorithms decide their fate.”
He also sent a message to the World Economic Forum in Davos last week about artificial intelligence, warning political, economic, and business leaders and expressing concern about the development of this technology and its effects on the future of humanity and the endangerment of their lives.
To this end, a document prepared by two Vatican departments on “ethics in artificial intelligence” and approved by Pope Francis states: “Fake media content generated by artificial intelligence can gradually undermine the foundations of society. This requires strict regulation, since the dissemination of false information and lies, especially through media controlled or influenced by artificial intelligence, can spread unintentionally and fuel political polarization and social unrest.”
The document, titled Antica et nova, meaning “old and new,” examines the impact of AI technology across a wide range of sectors, including the labor market, healthcare, and education. The Vatican stressed in the document: “As in any area where humans are responsible for decision-making, there is also a shadow of evil in AI. Consequently, the ethical assessment of this technology must take into account how it is directed and used.”
