Artificial Intelligence and the Church’s Social Teachings in Addressing Poverty and Promoting Justice in the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya

The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to address important societal concerns, like poverty and inequality, is growing in importance as it continues to influence society’s future. Currently, there is no existing knowledge to showcase the interaction of AI and the Catholic Social Teaching in addressing poverty and promoting social justice. Therefore, this essay examines the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Catholic social teachings, particularly in addressing poverty and promoting justice in the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. It explores how AI can support the Church’s mission to help marginalized communities while aligning with key principles such as human dignity, solidarity, and a preferential option for the poor (Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 2004; United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, n.d.). The study assesses AI applications in healthcare, education, and social services, addressing ethical concerns like bias, privacy, and the potential to exacerbate societal inequalities (Pope Francis, 2020). It offers suggestions for leaders, developers, and faith-based organizations on how to guarantee that AI is created and applied ethically, in line with the moral principles of the Church. The objective of this study is to evaluate how AI can align with Catholic social teachings to address poverty, promote justice, and ethically support marginalized populations while mitigating challenges like bias and privacy concerns. To collect data, the study shall apply a mixed methods approach. Qualitative interviews with various stakeholders and Google surveys for quantitative input shall be used. Future studies on the use of AI in communication networks in the Catholic Church will be necessary. Keywords: Artificial intelligence, Social teaching of the Church, poverty, justice