If he looks like the Holy Father, and moves like the Holy Father, and sounds like the Holy Father, is he really the Holy Father?
Maybe—but maybe not!
He might be an AI-generated “deepfake”. For those not familiar with the technical terminology, a deepfake is a video, photograph, or audio recording that appears to be real, but which has been manipulated by AI. Deepfakes are often used to spread misinformation and manipulate unsuspecting people—including faithful Catholics!
This is fast becoming a major problem, given the fact that so many Catholics seek reliable ecclesiastical and doctrinal information via the internet these days. Finding that information is becoming increasingly difficult, because of the rapid advancement in the technology. Thus it’s becoming harder and harder to distinguish what’s real from what’s AI-generated. As it says in a recent article on the Relevant Radio web site: “Today’s AI is next-level, and it’s fooling even sharp-eyed Catholics.” And if good Catholics are fooled, they can end up giving credence to ideas and teachings that are contrary to the Gospel—ideas and teachings that might put their eternal salvation in jeopardy.
This is not to say that all AI is bad. In a document that was jointly issued this past January by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education (with Pope Francis’ approval), it says, “Like any product of human creativity, AI can be directed toward positive or negative ends. When used in ways that respect human dignity and promote the well-being of individuals and communities, it can contribute positively to the human vocation. Yet, as in all areas where humans are called to make decisions, the shadow of evil also looms here. Where human freedom allows for the possibility of choosing what is wrong, the moral evaluation of this technology will need to take into account how it is directed and used.”
This means that as Catholics we need to be vigilant and discerning when it comes to using the internet to enhance our spiritual knowledge and growth. Appearances in an AI world can indeed be deceiving. Catholic radio show host Patrick Madrid and his producer Cyrus offer the following three principles that can serve to guide us in the discernment process:
1. Stick with verified sources. Vatican News, the official Holy See Press Office, and trusted Catholic media are your go-tos, not random YouTube channels or “prophetic” TikToks.
2. Clean your feed. Block or mute accounts that repeatedly share false or inflammatory content.
3. Be lovingly skeptical. Just because it looks papal doesn’t mean it’s true. Ask questions. Check the source. Cross-reference. Be holy and discerning.
And, of course, you can certainly and confidently add the Rhode Island Catholic to the list of “verified sources.” Deepfakes are not permitted on the pages of your diocesan newspaper!
