The Vatican has released a handbook titled “Ethics In The Age Of Disruptive Technologies” (ITEC handbook), which outlines its principles for responsible AI. To develop these principles, the Vatican drew inspiration from the AI principles of Microsoft, Google, and IBM. While Google collaborated with the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics to draft its AI principles, it has also faced notable controversies related to AI technology.

The ITEC principles emphasize that AI should uphold human dignity and rights, empower individuals instead of oppressing them, and promote overall human well-being. These principles also advocate for justice, accessibility, diversity, and equity at every stage of AI development. Additionally, the handbook highlights the responsibility to protect the Earth’s biodiversity and consider climate impacts, as the planet belongs to all forms of life.

Accountability is a crucial aspect of the ITEC principles and covers users, corporations, and development. Transparency and oversight are essential in the development of AI models to address concerns of data privacy and copyright infringement. Notably, the handbook mentions the Getty lawsuit against Stability AI and artists’ worries about potential AI replacements as examples. The authors of the handbook acknowledge that some principles may conflict with one another, and in such cases, the well-being of humanity should take precedence.