Summary
Since November 2022, AI has been a topic of sensational headlines, heralded as a solution to various challenges such as education and medical research. Catholics have also become increasingly exposed to AI with Henry Karlson, a Catholic theologian, emphasizing the Church’s cautious stance on its misuse despite scientific engagement. A standard definition for artificial intelligence (AI) remains elusive but generally refers to systems that can reason, learn, and act. For example, Visa processes 4 million transactions per minute efficiently without requiring human intervention, whereas driving is considered AI due to a computer’s superior performance compared to humans. Concerns over the impact of AI on human dignity, justice, and labor led Pope Leo XIV in his first address to the College of Cardinals to call for addressing the risks AI poses. In January 2025, two Church dicasteries jointly issued a doctrinal note titled “Ancient and New,” exploring the relationship between AI and human intelligence. The summary notes that while AI is not new—first coined in 1956 at Dartmouth College—the technology’s practical application has rapidly expanded. Despite these advancements, the fundamental question of what it means to be human remains central to discussions on AI’s implications.
Key Topics
Vatican City, Ethics
