The Vatican published an extensive document titled 'Antiqua et Nova', which reflects on Artificial Intelligence (AI), considering it both an opportunity and a danger. Despite recognizing the positive potential of AI, the Vatican warns about the dangers of this technology being in the hands of a few powerful companies, the possible misuse by students, and the increase in the spread of fake news.
The document, prepared by the Vatican ministries for the Doctrine of Faith, Culture, and Education, along with the words of Pope Francis on the subject, highlights the need for those responsible for transmitting the faith to dedicate careful attention to this urgent matter.
Various topics are addressed in the document, such as the challenges and opportunities that Artificial Intelligence presents in fields like education, economy, work, health, international relations, interpersonal relations, and wars. For example, ethical concerns regarding autonomous and lethal weapons, capable of identifying and attacking targets without direct human intervention, are mentioned, which raises serious moral and ethical issues.
The text also highlights the concentration of power over the main applications of AI in the hands of a few powerful companies, which could lead to the manipulation of this technology for personal or corporate gain, as well as to influence public opinion in favor of certain particular interests.
Regarding the development of AI in education, it emphasizes the importance of not limiting educational programs to simply providing answers, but rather fostering the students' ability to seek answers themselves and develop critical thinking. The document stresses that AI should be used as a complementary tool to human intelligence and not to replace it, as the substitution of human labor by technological progress could harm humanity.
In summary, the Vatican urges the ethical and responsible use of AI, avoiding its use to manipulate information or harm individuals.
