Artificial Intelligence and Ethics: When Technology Forgets the Common Good

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Are we truly guiding technology, or has technology begun to guide us? This is the question brought back into focus following the Pope’s recent address to participants at the annual conference of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences held at Sapienza University. Between voice assistants, algorithms that dictate what we see on social media, and AI tools that write or draw for us, the line between utility and dependency is becoming increasingly thin. The risk? That in chasing profits for a select few, we end up sidelining what truly matters: the well-being of individuals and families.

The Pope’s Appeal: Putting Humanity Back at the Center

Pope Leo XIV’s recent speech hits upon a fundamental truth: Artificial Intelligence is an extraordinary achievement of human ingenuity, but it cannot—and must not—become a heartless “super-judge.”

When we delegate critical decisions about our health, employment, or education to machines, we risk losing the most vital ingredient of all: empathy and human judgment. Technology must remain a tool in the service of humanity, not a master making decisions on its behalf.

A key point of reference and guidance on this topic is offered by the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. In this teaching, the Holy Father calls for great prudence and urges that technological development be subjected to rigorous, transparent oversight. The Pontiff firmly clarifies that this is by no means a knee-jerk opposition or a rejection of scientific and digital progress; rather, the ultimate goal is to care for the human family, safeguarding its dignity and central role against the dangers of automation devoid of moral boundaries.

Faced with the threat of individuals being reduced to mere data points or production metrics, the encyclical reminds us that the true measure of any innovation lies in its capacity to serve the common good and strengthen human relationships. The required oversight should not be viewed as an obstacle or a brake, but as an indispensable safeguard ensuring that algorithms remain at the service of people, families, and communities—never the other way around.

Big Tech and Algorithms: Serving the Interests of the Few

Today, the most powerful AI technologies are not shared equally: they are controlled by a handful of immensely powerful multinational corporations. This creates a severe imbalance.

• Our data is their fuel: Every search, click, or preference we make is converted into valuable data.
• Profit versus well-being: Algorithms are frequently designed to keep us glued to our screens for as long as possible—because the more time we spend online, the more revenue platform operators generate.

The Church’s warning reminds us of this exact point: technological advancement is only true “progress” if it improves life for everyone, not if it merely enriches those who own the servers.

What Is Really Changing in Our Homes?

Within family life, the impact of AI is already tangible. Children use AI to help with homework, parents use it to organize work or leisure time, and smart speakers in the living room answer our everyday questions.

But what is the cost of this convenience?

• Less effort, but also less critical thinking: If an answer is always readily available on a screen, we risk losing the habit of reasoning, questioning, and verifying sources.
• “Isolated” relationships: Spending hours interacting with algorithms tailored specifically to us risks making us less capable of listening to and understanding those around us in real life.

Toward Family-Centered AI

Discussing AI ethics is not about being anti-technology or wanting to return to the Stone Age. On the contrary: it means demanding that technology be built properly, safely, and transparently. This is what experts call “Algorithmic Ethics” (or algo-ethics): embedding moral principles into algorithms right from the programming stage.

The machine must remain a tool. No algorithm can ever replace a parent’s embrace, a teacher’s intuition, or the warmth of a family conversation.

Three Practical Tips for Everyday Life

How can we manage Artificial Intelligence at home without being overwhelmed? Here are three simple, actionable steps for any parent to implement right away:

1. Teach children to “doubt” ready-made answers. When your children use tools like ChatGPT for schoolwork, don’t ban them—use them together. Ask questions like: “Are you sure this is accurate? How can we double-check this information?” Turn AI into an opportunity to build their critical thinking skills.
2. Create “data-free” spaces and times. Simple habits—like leaving phones away from the dinner table or turning off voice assistants during important conversations—help protect family privacy and restore the value of physical presence.
3. Encourage activities that machines cannot replicate. Sports, walks in nature, board games, DIY projects, or playing music. The more room we give to activities that require hands-on skill, real creativity, and physical presence, the easier it will be to keep technology in its proper place: as a simple supporting tool.