With the advancement attained in the fields of science and technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the tools dedicated to serve humanity in various spheres of life. The world has currently seen a rise of AI applications which impact numerous walks of life.

In a relevant  event, the Dicasteries for the Doctrine of the Faith and for Culture and Education have highlighted the potential and the challenges of AI in several areas, namely education, economy, labor, health, human and international relations, medicine, and war. In this regard the Vatican has issued a new document that examines the potential and risks of AI.

The document titled, "Antiqua et Nova,” provides an outline on the relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence". The new document is addressed especially to “those entrusted with transmitting the faith,” but also to “those who share the conviction that scientific and technological advances should be directed toward serving the human person and the common good."

The document highlights the challenges and opportunities of the development of AI in the fields of education, economy, work, health, relationships, and warfare.  Furthermore, the document lists not only the risks but also the progress associated with AI, which it encourages as “part of the collaboration of man and woman with God”. However, it does not avoid the concerns that come with all innovations, whose effects are still unpredictable.

Antiqua et Nova includes paragraphs that draw a distinction between AI and human intelligence, and stresses that autonomous and lethal weapons systems capable of “identifying and striking targets without direct human intervention are a “cause for grave ethical concern”. It notes that AI can lead to “harmful isolation” that “anthropomorphizing AI” poses problems for children's growth and that misrepresenting AI as a person is “a grave ethical violation” if this is done “for fraudulent purposes immoral and requires careful oversight”.

On the other hand, the document notes among others that "the current approaches to the technology can paradoxically "deskill" workers, subject them to automated surveillance, and relegate them to rigid and repetitive tasks. ”With regards to health, the document warns that if AI were to replace the doctor-patient relationship, it would risk “worsening the loneliness that often accompanies illness”. The document "Antiqua et Nova” insists the fact that AI “should be used only as a tool to complement human intelligence rather than replace its richness.”

It is important to note that AI provides services to humanity in various fields with some top applications, namely e-commerce, education, lifestyle, navigation, robotics, natural language processing, computer vision, face recognition, human resources, healthcare, agriculture, gaming, automobiles, social media, marketing,  finance,  astronomy, data security, in addition to travel and transport among others. Furthermore, it helped eradicate tuberculosis especially in Nepalese mountains. AI can still serve as source of evil when misused in various fields including cyber-attacks, identity theft, autonomous weapons that can make their own decisions, wars, and financial fraud among others.

It is worthy to note that the Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan held a conference in Amman on August 5, 2024 titled, "Artificial Intelligence for Peace and Human Dignity". At the opening session, CCSM Director Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader said, "We wanted this conference to convey a humanitarian trend reminiscent of the role of technology and its message in making peace, in preserving human dignity, and that we do not want these modern means to be in the hands of evil and violence, as well as in the hands of killing and abusing of people, while stressing that true intelligence must serve people."

At the time, the conference summed up the discussions by stating that" Artificial intelligence is welcome! As no one can stand in the way of progress; artificial intelligence should never be dedicated to serve malicious and deadly political goals or to attain economic profits, but rather to serve the purpose of protecting human dignity. Sometimes technologies develop dissipate, but the noble human presence remains as the basis for any technological development. We never accept to repeat the common saying: ‘”We have developed technologically, but we have regressed morally." But at the conference, we wanted to say: “We have developed technologically, and we have advanced morally."

The CCSM, being a distinguished center that highlights current affairs of interest to humanity, has all the time been standing tall to meets urgent needs of interest and to provide services in the field of media designed to promote, peace and societal harmony. 

It is also hoped that world leaders and decision-makers will do their utmost to ensure that AI would only be used in areas that benefit humanity and solve all pending problems, thus help create an atmosphere of  global peace that preserves human dignity.