Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most discussed and promising technologies of our time, presenting challenges and opportunities that call for deep reflection. The Note Antiqua et Nova, published by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education, offers a Christian perspective on these issues, emphasizing the importance of responsible use of rationality and technical ability.
Just a few days after the release of this document, we want to offer you an easy-to-understand summary so that you can find your way through the new horizons that progress offers us.
How similar is AI to human intelligence?
AI can certainly imitate some cognitive functions, but the differences between artificial intelligence and human intelligence remain, and they are deep and significant. This article will explore these distinctions, offering a broader perspective on the unique nature of human intelligence.
AI: a machine that learns
The Dicastery’s Note defines AI as a highly sophisticated machine that learns, somewhat like a person would: it can translate languages, recognize images, answer questions, and even create texts and drawings. It is efficient and fast at performing these tasks, often more so than we are; however, it is not human intelligence and should not be viewed as an artificial form of intelligence, but as one of its products.
Our intelligence: a complete gift
Our intelligence, in fact, is something much broader and deeper: we can see this from the fact that it does not simply allow us to perform calculations or solve problems, but also enables us to feel emotions, be creative, empathize with others, and distinguish between right and wrong.
A focus on the dignity of the human person
Faced with this powerful and promising tool, important ethical questions arise: the main concern regards moral responsibility and safety in the use of AI, particularly because of its autonomous learning capabilities.
The Dicastery’s document also takes care to emphasize that a person’s value does not depend on their abilities or achievements, but on their intrinsic dignity as a being created in the image of God. This dignity remains intact in every circumstance, even in those who are unable to exercise their abilities.
These considerations place the issue of moral responsibility at the center of the design and use of AI: only human beings are capable of making free and responsible decisions, guided by moral conscience toward what is good. AI must be used in a way that supports and promotes the dignity of every human being and the fullness of their vocation.
Risks to avoid
There are therefore some risks in using AI that should not be underestimated:
• thinking that technology can solve all problems, forgetting the value of human relationships;
• using AI to create inequalities, benefiting only the richest or most powerful at the expense of the more vulnerable sectors of society;
• relying too heavily on machines, losing our ability to make choices with both our heads and our hearts;
• being unable to distinguish whether we are speaking with a real person or a machine;
• using AI for harmful purposes, such as creating fake news or promoting war: “Pope Francis observed that ‘the possibility of conducting military operations through remote-control systems has led to a reduced perception of the devastation they cause and of the responsibility for their use, contributing to an even colder and more detached approach to the immense tragedy of war’”.
Using AI with the wisdom of the heart
It is therefore clear that AI is a valuable tool that must be used wisely, always taking care to listen to the voice of the “wisdom of the heart,” that is, the ability to understand what is truly important, to act responsibly, and to always seek what is good for everyone. Indeed, the Note recalls that “the essential and fundamental question always remains whether man, as a human being, in the context of this progress, truly becomes better, that is, more spiritually mature, more conscious of the dignity of his humanity, more responsible, more open to others, particularly toward those most in need and the weakest, more willing to give and offer help to everyone.”
In an era marked by AI, it is essential to renew our appreciation of everything that is human. AI must be a tool complementary to human intelligence, not a substitute for it. The challenge is to cultivate aspects of human life that go beyond calculation, such as charity, fraternity, and the search for truth, and to use technology to promote solidarity and communion with God, in the awareness that we are much more than what a machine can do.
If you wish, share your opinion on this topic with us and tell us about your relationship with AI.
