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The church and AI?

The Vatican sparked my thinking with their new note from a week ago (Jan 28): "Antiqua et nova". As an entrepreneur, I regularly grapple with the impact of AI on our operations, and this document hits the core of what we all face. Especially in finding the balance between ethics and innovation. I too understand that the most beautiful flowers grow at the edge of the cliff, but in the long term, I firmly believe that crossing those boundaries will come back to bite you hard.

What struck me most was the emphasis on human intelligence. We are more than rational beings - our emotions and social connections make us unique. That doesn't mean we should shun AI, but rather critically assess where and how to use it. Within Red Rocket, I notice daily how important the human touch remains, even with extensive automation. Ultimately, there are a multitude of variables that we still cannot incorporate into daily decision-making.

The Vatican's warning about technocratic control resonated with me. As entrepreneurs, we face crucial choices: How do we prevent a few tech giants from gaining too much power? (We too are still seeking solutions to level our risk)

How do we protect our democratic values? These are not abstract questions - they directly affect our daily decisions about which technologies we implement and how we do so.

For (us as) leaders, this concretely means:

- Transparent communication about AI usage to employees and customers.

- Regular evaluation of the impact on employees.

- Active involvement in ethical decision-making around AI.

- Investment in human skills alongside technological development.

How do you deal with these challenges? I am genuinely curious about your experiences and insights. Feel free to comment below the post - your perspective is valuable to all professionals on this platform.

As usual, the sources I used:

https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20250128_antiqua-et-nova_en.html

https://every.to/napkin-math/the-vatican-has-some-thoughts-on-ai (It's behind a paywall, but if you really want to see it, I can send it as a gift)

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