Vatican Warns About the Risks of Artificial Intelligence

The Vatican called for constant oversight of artificial intelligence on Tuesday, warning about the potential for “the shadow of evil” in the technology, which it said offered “a source of tremendous opportunities but also profound risks.”

In a new document meant to advise the Catholic faithful, the church warned that the technology should be used to complement human intelligence, “rather than replace its richness.” The document was approved by Pope Francis, who has repeatedly warned that the application of artificial intelligence should be grounded in ethical and moral considerations.

“In all areas where humans are called to make decisions, the shadow of evil also looms here,” the Vatican said in the paper. It added, “The moral evaluation of this technology will need to take into account how it is directed and used.”

The paper “is a synthesis of a lot of the existing materials that have been developing organically over the last while,” drawing on Francis’s past statements and writings to look at A.I.’s effect on relationships, education, warfare and work, said the Rev. Paul Tighe, one of the people who worked on it. The paper was written over six months by a Vatican team in consultation with various experts, including those in A.I.

The paper tries to map out “an understanding of what it is to be human that in a sense gives shape to the ethical concerns,” said Father Tighe, who is the spokesman for the Vatican department of culture and education.

The paper warned of A.I.’s potential to destroy the trust on which societies are built because of its potential to spread misinformation. “A.I.-generated fake media can gradually undermine the foundations of society,” the document said. “This issue requires careful regulation, as misinformation — especially through A.I.-controlled or -influenced media — can spread unintentionally, fueling political polarization and social unrest.