# What is the churhe's view on the validity and role of artificial intelligence?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-churhes-view-on-the-validity-and-role-of-artificial-intelligence/683331>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 10, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-churhes-view-on-the-validity-and-role-of-artificial-intelligence/683331 "2014-03-10T04:39:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![IMfez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f07891/32.png) [@IMfez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMfez)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-churhes-view-on-the-validity-and-role-of-artificial-intelligence/683331/1 "2014-03-10T04:39:21Z")

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Hi, I have a 2 part question:

1. Does the Catholic church have a position for or against personhood for beings with artificial intelligence?

2. If yes to the above, does the church plan to pursue and convert AIs to their religion?

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**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-churhes-view-on-the-validity-and-role-of-artificial-intelligence/683331/2 "2014-03-10T04:47:43Z")

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WAG:

I doubt they do since true AI is largely still in the realm of science fiction, and 2) even if it became a reality, there’s a strong case to be made that AIs will not be seen to have a soul that needs salvation, it not being human afterall.

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**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-churhes-view-on-the-validity-and-role-of-artificial-intelligence/683331/3 "2014-03-10T04:49:41Z")

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What I’m getting from searching is that:

1. It’s ultimately impossible, because we’re not God and thus can’t give the computer a soul.

2. It’s possibly heretical to try, and almost certainly ill advised.

[This cite](http://www.sentientdevelopments.com/2006/10/pope-warns-about-artificial.html), for instance, quotes Pope Benedict as making Icarus allusions with AI research. I can’t find too many reputable cites, though, so I don’t know if he actually said that.

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**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-churhes-view-on-the-validity-and-role-of-artificial-intelligence/683331/4 "2014-03-10T05:06:08Z")

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Roger Bacon may have created a Brazen Head, but he never tried to baptize it.