I. Introduction (1-6)
The gift of human intelligence is a core part of being created in the ‘image of God’. We can glorify God by reflecting His wisdom and goodness through the use of reason in the advancement of science, technology, the arts and other forms of human endeavour. The Church emphasises that this gift of intelligence should be expressed through the responsible use of reason and technical abilities in the stewardship of the created world.
Therefore, we must consider the anthropological and ethical implications of the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This involves not only mitigating risks but also ensuring that AI is used to promote human progress and the common good.
II. What is Artificial Intelligence? (7-12)
Artificial Intelligence was defined by John McCarthy in 1956 as “that of making a machine behave in ways that would be called intelligent if a human were so behaving”. Since then, AI research has advanced rapidly, and many tasks previously done by humans are now entrusted to AI, enhancing, or even superseding what humans are able to do in certain fields, particularly in specialised areas such as data analysis, image recognition and medical diagnosis. By analysing large datasets to identify patterns, AI can “predict” outcomes and propose new approaches, mimicking some cognitive processes typical of human problem-solving, and even suggesting novel solutions not anticipated by the original programmers. Beyond these ‘narrow AI’ applications to specific fields of inquiry, researchers aim to develop Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), a single application capable of operating across all cognitive areas within the scope of human intelligence. Some believe that AGI could lead to a sort of ‘superintelligence’ or even extend human longevity, while others worry about its potential to overshadow human identity.
Central to the debate around the relationship between AI and human intelligence is the ambiguous use of the term ‘intelligence’. In humans, intelligence is an ability that encompasses the whole person. But, in the context of AI, intelligence is understood functionally, often presuming that the workings of the human mind can be broken down into digitised steps that can be replicated by a machine.
This reflects the ‘Turing tests’ which consider a machine ‘intelligent’ if a person cannot distinguish its behaviour from that of a human. This test is flawed as it only looks at the performance of specific intellectual tasks, not accounting for the full breadth of human experiences or encompassing the full range of expressions characteristic of the human mind. It looks only at the ability to produce appropriate responses regardless of how those responses are generated. Hence, while AI has the ability to perform tasks, it cannot think in any meaningful theological or philosophical way.
III. Intelligence in the Philosophical and Theological Tradition (13-35)
The mind has always played a central role in understanding what it means to be human. The Christian tradition sees humans as both body and soul, connected to but transcending this world. In the classical tradition, intelligence is often seen as a combination of reason and intellect. St Thomas Aquinas describes intellect (intellectus) as the intuitive grasp of truth, while reason (ratio) is the analytical and questioning process through which intelligence operates. Ultimately, Aquinas described the act of human intelligence as “the proper operation of the human being as such.”
Human rationality is a fundamental aspect of human nature, reflecting how a person, made in the “image of God”, uses reason to guide their will and actions. The human person is simultaneously both body and soul, material and spiritual. Hence, the human person transcends the material world through the soul allowing the intellect’s capacity for the self-possessed freedom of the will. It also gives us the ability to savour what is true, good and beautiful. This means that a proper understanding of human intelligence cannot be reduced to mere acquisition of facts or the ability to perform specific tasks.
Human intelligence is not an isolated faculty but is exercised in relationships and dialogue. This reflects the self-giving nature of God and our call to communion with Him and with others. Human intelligence is God’s gift to us to seek the truth as well as to cultivate and care for the world so that it can better reflect the order and harmony of God. Not simply concerned with the gathering of facts or performance of tasks, the purpose of human intelligence is to integrate truth into our moral and spiritual life so that we can better come to know and love God, others and ourselves.
This highlights AI’s limits. It can simulate human reasoning and perform tasks efficiently, but its computational abilities represent only a fraction of the broader capacities of the human mind. While AI can ‘learn’ from vast datasets of human experiences and knowledge, it cannot imitate the personal growth of human intelligence, particularly the insights of moral discernment and the development of authentic relationships. AI lacks the richness of the human experience, and its capacities are incomparable with the human ability to grasp reality. Hence, AI should not be seen as an artificial form of human intelligence but as an extraordinary technical product of it.
IV. The Role of Ethics in Guiding the Development and Use of AI (36-48)
Humans must always use their abilities to seek the higher purpose for which God has granted them, including in relation to the development of AI. Scientific inquiry and the development of technical skills are part of our collaboration with God in ‘perfecting the visible creation’, while recognising the potential for evil and ensuring that development is guided in a responsible and ethical way. Only a human being is truly a moral agent and possesses moral responsibility in their decisions and accepts their consequences. Like any product of human intelligence, AI can be employed for positive or negative ends, and it is the responsibility of the humans involved to discern prudently, seek the good and ensure that any use of AI respects human dignity and promotes the common good.
In human activity, the means are ethically significant as well as the ends. Technological products reflect the worldview of the developers, owners, users and regulators and have the power to shape the world and engage consciences on the level of values. Some technological developments could reinforce relationships and power dynamics that are inconsistent with a proper understanding of the human person and society. Human intelligence must be used for prudently directing the use of technical systems in line with human dignity and the wider principles of Catholic social teaching.
As AI models become increasingly capable of independent ‘learning’, the ability to understand them and maintain control over their applications may be threatened. Therefore, the algorithms for AI should be secure and transparent, and their developers, owners, operators and regulators should be held morally responsible and accountable for the design and direction of AI systems. The users of AI are also morally responsible for its ethical use and should be careful not to become overly reliant on AI for decision-making. AI must be directed by human intelligence, and it must be ensured that the use of AI respects the dignity of the person.
V. Specific Questions (49-107)
AI and Society
- There are several opportunities, challenges and questions raised by AI. Countering them requires the efforts of all people of goodwill. Pope Francis has highlighted that there are opportunities to use AI to improve quality of life but also threats that AI could pose to human development and the common good, such as by perpetuating marginalisation and discrimination and worsening existing social and economic inequalities.
- The concentration of control by a few powerful companies over mainstream AI applications raises significant ethical concerns, particularly around accountability and manipulation. This is exacerbated by the lack of complete oversight over the complex databases.
- Pope Francis has warned against a “technocratic paradigm” in which it is perceived that all the world’s problems can be solved through technological means alone. This creates a danger of human dignity and fraternity being set aside in the name of efficiency. Rather than merely pursuing economic or technological objectives, AI should be used in the service of the common good.
AI and Human Relationships
- While AI has the potential to foster connections within the human family, it could also hinder a true encounter with reality and lead to isolation, particularly if authentic interpersonal relationships are replaced by exchanges with AI. It is crucial to avoid anthropomorphising AI and to maintain the distinction between the human person and the products of AI. Anthropomorphising AI poses specific challenges for the development of children, potentially encouraging them to develop patterns of interaction that treat human relationships in a transactional manner. It is important to remember that AI applications cannot experience empathy. Misrepresenting AI as a person, especially for the purpose of engaging in fraud, erodes social trust. Similarly, using AI to deceive in other contexts, such as in education or sexuality, is also immoral and requires careful oversight to prevent harm, maintain transparency and ensure the dignity of all people.
- Humans are meant to experience authentic relationship, but in an increasingly isolated world, some people have turned to AI to simulate human connection. We are called to engage with reality rather than retreating into artificial worlds where relationships with God and others are replaced by interaction with technology.
AI, the Economy and Labour
- AI is increasingly being integrated into economic and financial systems, raising concerns about the accumulation of power and control by a few large companies in this area. Relying entirely on digital technology for economic and financial decisions could diminish the diversity and depth of human-driven solutions. This shift may undermine the natural dialogue between stakeholders, replacing meaningful engagement with rigid procedures and a superficial sense of connection.
- Whilst AI can boost productivity by handling mundane tasks, the pace of technological change can also deskill workers and reduce their sense of agency. AI is also currently eliminating the need for some jobs that were once performed by humans and there is a danger that human labour may lose its value in the economic realm. Rather than replace human industry, AI should promote the human vocation to work as a central part of the meaning of life on this earth, as a path to growth, human development and personal fulfilment.
AI and Healthcare
- AI holds a lot of potential in the medical field, including assisting in diagnoses, facilitating relationships between patients and physicians, offering new treatments and expanding access to care. AI should assist, not replace, healthcare providers, as a true interpersonal relationship is important to encourage solidarity with the sick and suffering. Responsibility for the well-being of patients should never be delegated to AI but remain with medical professionals who should always respect the inherent dignity of the patient.
- Decisions regarding the treatment of patients should never be delegated to AI. Similarly, AI should not be used to determine who receives treatment primarily based on economic factors or efficiency metrics.
AI and Education
- In the context of education, AI presents both opportunities and challenges. Education cultivates both intellectual and wider personal development, centred on the teacher-student relationship. While AI can be used prudently as a valuable educational resource, AI systems should not be used to merely provide answers or text rather than allowing students to learn how to discover the answers themselves. Moreover, the use of AI in education should always be transparent, especially given the frequency of false or misleading information arising from the use of these programmes.
AI, Misinformation, Deepfakes, and Abuse
- AI may be used to spread misinformation, often due to algorithmic errors known as ‘hallucinations’. There is also the problem of the deliberate misuse of AI for manipulation, including the production of ‘deepfake’ material, which can be used to target or harm others. These can distort our relationships with others and with reality, which can gradually undermine the trust which is foundational to society. This can encourage distrust and polarisation, as it becomes increasingly difficult to agree on shared facts and evidence.
AI, Privacy and Surveillance
- Humans are inherently relational, and the generation of data in the digital world can be seen as an external representation of our human identity. As a result, the control of access to personal data can grant a certain power over the lives of others. Privacy is vital in order to uphold human dignity and protect the legitimate freedom of the individual, including the right to a private life. This is particularly important due to advances in AI-powered data processing and analysis which now make it possible to infer patterns in a person’s life from even a small amount of information.
AI and the Protection of Our Common Home
- AI has the potential to improve our relationship with our ‘common home’, such as through improvements in climate forecasting, sustainable agriculture and early warning systems. However, the vast amount of energy and water needed to support current AI models and hardware can significantly contribute to CO2 emissions and a strain on natural resources.
AI and Warfare
Peace is not simply the absence of war. It is, according to St Augustine, the “tranquillity of order”. Peace cannot be achieved without safeguarding the good of persons, free communication, respect for human dignity and fraternity. While the use of AI could help to improve efforts to promote peace and security, the weaponisation of AI could threaten this goal.
- The ability to conduct military operations remotely can reduce the sense of moral responsibility for the destruction caused by war. Additionally, the convenience of autonomous weapons may make warfare a more attractive option, rather than a last resort for legitimate self-defence.
- The capacity for lethal autonomous weapon systems to identify and strike targets without direct human intervention raises ethical concerns. Pope Francis has called for the prohibition of the use of such weapons systems. The development and deployment of AI in armaments should be subject to the highest levels of ethical scrutiny, governed by a concern for human dignity and the sanctity of life and an awareness of the immense destructive potential of such advanced technologies, with a human person always ultimately morally responsible for the use of weaponry in wartime.
AI and Our Relationship with God
- Advances in AI, particularly the prospect of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), can lead some to turn to AI in search of meaning or fulfilment. However, while AI can be a force for good, it is ultimately a product of human intelligence rather than a deity. The worship of AI, and wider technological progress, is a form of idolatry which must not substitute for communion with God.
VI. Concluding Reflections (108-117)
Pope Francis has stressed that, as technological power grows, so must human responsibility, values and conscience. The key question is whether technological progress is making humanity more mature, compassionate and responsible. AI should be evaluated based on its impact on human dignity, on the vocation of the human person and on the common good, with appropriate responses from all levels of society based on the principle of subsidiarity. AI should be integrated within a framework of relational intelligence, recognising human interconnectedness and moral responsibility. Ultimately, technology should serve humanity rather than diminish it, avoiding ‘digital reductionism’ and ensuring that AI complements rather than replaces human intelligence.
While vast amounts of knowledge are now easily accessible, true wisdom is needed to ensure that it is not spiritually barren. Wisdom, a gift beyond machines, helps us to integrate knowledge with ethical and moral insight. The Holy Spirit enables us to see reality through God’s eyes, guiding the responsible use of AI to promote the common good, solidarity and care for the vulnerable. Humanity’s true measure lies not in information but in charity. Technological progress should align with God’s plan, ordered towards truth and goodness.
