The Vatican just issued a dire new warning about artificial intelligence to Catholic faithful.
In a new paper written over the last six months the Vatican cautioned the public over embracing AI. They cited a number of moral and ethical concerns they have with artificial intelligence, which they say harbors the “shadow of evil” just underneath its surface.
Their fears encompass everything from the increased proliferation of AI-generated fake news and images, to furthering the loneliness epidemic amongst youth… and even the potential to cause widespread economic collapse.
A Dangerous Tool
“A source of tremendous opportunities but also profound risks” is how the Vatican described AI in the paper, which advises a more cautious attitude towards AI than the ‘full steam ahead’ approach most governments and tech companies are embracing.
“In all areas where humans are called to make decisions, the shadow of evil also looms here,” reads one ominous line in the paper. “The moral evaluation of this technology will need to take into account how it is directed and used.”
The document highlights a number of concerns that the Vatican takes very seriously, including the possibility of full-blown societal breakdown.
“AI-generated fake media can gradually undermine the foundations of society,” reads the paper. “This issue requires careful regulation, as misinformation - especially through AI-controlled or -influenced media - can spread unintentionally, fueling political polarization and social unrest.”
“Such widespread deception is no trivial matter,” the Vatican says. AI-generated content is quicky becoming nearly indistinguishable from reality. Take, for example, these AI-generated images recently shared by Madonna of her sharing an embrace with – who else – Pope Francis:
Additionally, the Vatican cautioned that AI could cause a “harmful sense of isolation” in youth, cultivating antisocial behavior. There is already a loneliness epidemic amongst many young people, and the Vatican fears that as AI interaction becomes more realistic, many may develop the transactional relationships they have with chatbots with their fellow humans – or even replace their human connections with digital ones entirely.
Will AI Replace Humanity?
It’s a classic sci-fi scenario, but Pope Francis seemingly fears it may come true. Could widespread, unregulated adoption of AI tools by unprincipled businesses lead to widespread unemployment and economic devastation for the working class?
Could artificial intelligence supplant our weak, fleshy bodies and fallible human brains altogether?
The “dignity of laborers and the importance of employment for the economic well-being of individuals, families and societies, for job security and just wages, ought to be a high priority for the international community,” reads the document in what was perhaps its most alarming warning.
AI must complement humanity rather than “replace its richness,” the document says. And it must not be used to “reduce workers to mere ‘cogs in a machine.’”
This isn't the first time the Vatican's addressed the necessity of approaching AI ethically. Last year, Pope Francis addressed a group of scientists invited by the Vatican's Dicastery for Education and Culture, where he shared similar concerns:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV44uUkZm8g
How Does This End?
It seems we’re still in the ‘wild west’ phase of artificial intelligence, and analyst opinions vary wildly on just how much impact AI will have on our lives when the dust finally settles. But this document makes the Vatican’s opinion on AI clear, painting a bleak picture of one possible path AI might take us down… if we aren’t careful.
What do you think? Have Vatican officials been watching too many science fiction films, or is there something to their warnings?
Is it true that AI harbors the potential for evil?
26 comments
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Rev. Klaire ThD, MA
What does it really mean when an organization steeped in controversy makes a "dire" warning relative to a fictional subject (religion)? There are so many reasons to tread with caution regarding artificial intelligence but I'm also certain that there are no 'evil' components or connections other than the ill-will associated with some bad actors.
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Nicholas J Page
Ai no thanks and to be honest I don't know anything about it.
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Lawrence Pearce
As if "faked photos" never existed before 2025? I found photoshopped photos of Hillary and female celebrities placed on top of porn stars bodies back in the 1990s, long before "ai" was a thing.
Madonna has extremely bad taste by placing herself alongside a photo of the pope. She should photoshop herself by an endangered species like a polar bear with her head inside its mouth. LOL
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Colleen McAllister
Evil? No. Can it be used for evil purposes? Certainly. Should there be restraints put on the use of AI? Definitely.
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Brien
So, I am wondering where the dire warning is for the Vatican. They seem to have a very long history of evil. I mean fair is fair right?
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Reverend Paula Copp
Absolutely fair.
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ServantOfJudgement
They did launder gold the Nazi collected from the Jews during the Holocaust and other stuff like that. Kinda evil.
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Lawrence Pearce
Pope Frankie is a hypocritical clown. There is no "ai" machine that will physically molest kids like the pope's priests have been doing for centuries. He lectures US about building a wall for protection on our southern border, but his Vatican is surrounded by an even higher wall for protection!
The "ai" machines are programmed and manipulated as a tool for information and misinformation, just like we have seen our corporate owned news media outlets do to us for more than one hundred years.
Examples of media misinformation before the civil war of 1861: "If we southern democrats attack the north now, the war will be over within a few months and we'll keep our slaves." (Lie) Before Vietnam, "Our military was attacked by the forces of the Viet Cong in the Gulf of Tonkin." (Lie) "We must attack Iraq because Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction." (Lie) In every case, the lies told us by the news media led to the deaths of thousands of Americans.
If you want to see "ai" in action, watch "The Wizard of Oz" when "the great and powerful Oz" is telling Dorothy and her posse to bring it the broom of the wicked witch. It was nothing but the projected image of one person who manipulated smoke and sounds to intimidate her. Her little dog Toto pulled back the curtain to expose the "ai machine" and the imposter who was operating it. There is the "ai machine" that the popoe claims is so scary. It's a machine run by corporate insiders for the benefit of corporate insiders!
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ServantOfJudgement
This is interesting. This morning I was listening to Corinthians where Paul says the idols to Satan are speechless and useless. I thought, no so with AI. That idol, if it becomes one will be quite lively and effective. Satan's masterpiece if you will
Who's the Pope to talk anyway, google his satanic throne room. It's satanism in plain sight.
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Lionheart
It’s interesting that the Vatican are concerned about moral and ethical values. Are they changing their ethics? 🤭
I’m sure the Vatican is very concerned about their f(AI)thful followers. 🤗
🦁❤️
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Brien
Thank you my friend, I really do enjoy clearing out my nose with coffee 😜😜😜
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Reverend Paula Copp
The truly unfortunate aspect is that this bell cannot be unrung… there’s no going back to the time before AI. There’s no meaningful way to avoid an interaction with AI, and thinking that it won’t evolve is naive. The ability to discern what is acceptable interaction, and that which has become too involved, is necessary to keep a healthy balance. I understand where the pope is coming from, but I don’t think he’s in touch with the actual situation.
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Lawrence Pearce
It may be possible to escape or avoid the "ai machine" by living off grid with nature just like our ancestors did for thousands of years. IMO, the "ai machine" is about the same as the machine manipulated by the Wizard of Oz in the movie of the same name. It's programmed to relay both information and misinformation.
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Theresa C. Marquess
Proceed with caution...
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Lawrence Pearce
"Don't believe everything you see, read or hear in the media or on the internet. The "ai machine" can be programmed to lie and deceive us just like corporate owned media has been doing for years!
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Theresa C. Marquess
Lawrence! How nice to hear from you. You can't possibly believe that I would take verbatim what is said online, in the media or at the local Perkins breakfast table...and the Perkins breakfast table is the least likely to lie. Ahem, I'm giving them credit for their honest opinions of world affairs. I read, I sift through the droppings, and I make my own decisions! I hope you do as well. It's what makes each one of us unique! Have a blessed day!
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Najah P Tamargo
Najah Tamargo-USA
I have to agree, which is rare, withe that. AI has it's pluses.....but there are a lot drawbacks as well.
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John P Maher
ELON MUSK is TRULY A NAZI, AND WHERE DID HIS STARTING "MONEY" COME FROM ? HIS NAZI PARENTS JA !
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Lionheart
Just a heads-up in case you missed it, this article is about Artificial Intelligence, Sir John.
🦁❤️
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Lawrence Pearce
Seems to be a bit jealous of those who built and flew the first jet planes, built the first model of our interstate highway system, designed and built the first jet powered planes we see at airports, designed and flew the first stealth bomber, invented the term "blitz" to describe a powerful football play, designed and built the first V2 rockets that launched our satellites and men into orbit, invented the first night vision technology, designed and built the first aerodynamic car known as the VW Beetle, launched the popular "Fanta" soft drinks, invented the first electron microscope, the first development of nuclear energy and the first development of radar.
Other than those inventions we still enjoy today, "What have the Germans ever done for us?" - Monty Python's Life of Brian reference
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ServantOfJudgement
I didn't see him in the article. While it is true the Nazi were democratic socialists I don't think Elon Musk is a democratic socialist. He behaves like a capitalist and the Nazi weren't capitalists.
Bernie Sanders, Chick Schumer, Cortez, Warren, Mitch McConnell, Obama, Biden, Harris, George Bush 2, George Bush 1 and so on are democratic socialists. Look there for your Nazi.
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Amber Fry
Time to reup your history. Socialism and fascism are on opposite ends of the political scale. The Nazi regime was hard right, not left.
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ServantOfJudgement
Thanks for the advice Amber, here's what I found.
"The Nazis were members of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), led by Adolf Hitler, which ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945."
Thanks again.
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Michael Hunt
Just because a country claims to be something, like the Democratic People's Republic of Korea claiming to be democratic, doesn't mean that they actually are. Any cursory look at the history of the Nazi party would show you that they were not actually a socialist country. They just used that title and socialist rhetoric to appeal to the middle class but once they were in power, socialists were purged from the German civil service. https://www.britannica.com/story/were-the-nazis-socialists
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Lawrence Pearce
Where do you see Elon, Nazis or South Africa in this story? Have you been programmed to hate a "Tesla level genius" who designed and built the first practical electric cars? Who has built and sent thousands of communication satellites into orbit? Who has designed and installed a neurochip that allows paralyzed people to communicate with their thoughts to the outside world? Hitler never did any of those things and this story is about ai, so stay on topic.
You know what they say, "What you focus on (nazis) is what you'll become (nazis)!"
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Interesting article, It is really a new awareness vs a bigger presence of evil Tis the ? Where ever you tell a lie, Satan will rise the lie quotation has gone up in America. Cultivate kindness & turn away wickedness & AI does has a mind of its own.