Vatican Issues Comprehensive Ethical Guidelines for AI Use

On January 28, 2025, the Vatican released a detailed document titled “Antica et nova” (Ancient and new), providing ethical guidelines for the application of artificial intelligence (AI) across various sectors, including warfare, healthcare, education, and the environment. The document emphasizes that AI should serve as a tool to complement, not replace, human intelligence.

The guidelines warn against the potential dangers of AI in warfare, such as automated weapons systems, stressing that life-and-death decisions should never be made by machines. In healthcare, the document underscores AI’s role in aiding but not replacing the patient-caregiver relationship.

It also addresses privacy concerns, the risk of surveillance, and the environmental impact of AI’s high energy consumption. The Vatican urges caution against AI-generated misinformation and deepfakes, advocating for collective responsibility in verifying the accuracy of shared information.