Artificial intelligence is a technology that mimics human intelligence. It’s like a supercomputer that processes data at incredible speeds, learns, solves problems, and even makes decisions. For example, imagine asking your phone to summarize the Bible for you or write a poem like Cervantes or Lope de Vega. It does it in seconds, but be careful: artificial intelligence doesn’t think or feel like we do; it only imitates based on data and algorithms. It may seem like magic, but it sometimes makes mistakes and doesn’t replace human experience.

Where do we find it?

Artificial intelligence is everywhere. Teenagers use it for school or university work, with tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Grok. Platforms like Instagram, Netflix, and Amazon use it to recommend videos, movies, or products. Even companies like Zara and BBVA have chatbots that answer questions. Artificial intelligence is transforming the world like the industrial revolution did, but faster. It’s changing how we work, study, and even how we communicate. Some say it’s such a huge change that Pope Francis called it a change of era: it’s a revolution.

What does the Church say about artificial intelligence?

The Church is not afraid of artificial intelligence, but calls for its wise use. Church authorities have begun to approach AI as a phenomenon of our time and recognize its potential in fields such as medicine, education, and science, even for evangelization. For example, there are tools that help summarize Church teachings, but the Church warns that artificial intelligence must respect human dignity and serve the common good.

Principles of social doctrine applied to AI

The Church’s social doctrine offers clear guidance with principles that can be applied to artificial intelligence:

• The dignity of the human person:  AI must respect life, privacy, and work. It must treat human beings not as a means, but as an end.
• The common good:  AI must benefit everyone, not just a few rich or powerful people, to avoid inequalities.
• Solidarity:  AI must help those most in need and promote social justice.
• Subsidiarity:  Problems should be resolved at the closest possible level, without always relying on large centralized systems.

Furthermore, there are four fundamental values ​​that social doctrine requires us to apply to AI:  truth, freedom, justice, and love.  Artificial intelligence must not lie or create misinformation (for example, through deepfakes that can harm people).

Risks and dangers

Artificial intelligence also brings risks. Among them:

• Violation of privacy:  For example, when you talk about something and then see related advertising on your mobile phone.
• Fake relationships:  robots or systems that imitate affection, which cannot replace human love.
• Job losses:  It is estimated that a significant percentage of jobs could be automated; the Church reminds us that work is essential to human dignity and that AI should help us grow, not replace us.
• Security and autonomous weapons:  There is a danger of lethal autonomous systems that should never decide on human life.

Church documents and initiatives

The Dicastery for Culture and Education published a note called  Antiqua et Nova  in early 2025, which calls for using artificial intelligence with “ancient and new wisdom.” This document recognizes AI’s potential to address problems such as hunger and climate change, but insists that it must serve humankind, not the other way around.

The Church reminds us that AI has no soul or consciousness: it neither loves nor feels. Only we, created in the image and likeness of God, can love and seek happiness in Him.

Artificial intelligence is an incredible tool, but it is not God. It can change the world, but it can never replace love, forgiveness, or human compassion. The Church asks us to use it prudently, guided by human dignity and the common good, because ultimately our intelligence and happiness come from God, from the eternal Logos who loves us and calls us to love.

Let me know in the comments how you use artificial intelligence or what you think about this topic. If you’d like to learn more about the Church’s social doctrine, check out our full video on that topic. And remember: God loves you and wants you to be happy.