By John St. Pierre, ’26
Amid the various moral questions and opinions regarding AI, one economics student
at the University of Dallas is contributing to a new initiative that seeks to bring
Catholic moral teaching into the rapidly expanding world of artificial intelligence.
Peter Cooney, ’27, an economics major, has collaborated with his brother, Thomas, to develop Acutis
AI, a platform designed to integrate Catholic ethical principles and social thought
into its responses. The project reflects an emerging effort among young Catholics
to shape new technologies in light of the Church’s intellectual and moral tradition.
Cooney began developing the platform while enrolled in Catholic Social Thought and Economic Issues, a course taught by Dr. Aida Ramos, associate professor and chair of the economics department. The class examines a variety of economic issues such as labor, wages, international trade, technology and policy through the lens of the Church's social principles, including subsidiarity, solidarity and the common good.
"I am very proud of the work Peter has done,” Ramos said. “He has integrated the moral framework of Catholic social thought and ethics that he has learned across the curriculum at UD into his model. For people wary of the amoral and immoral responses from other AI models, Acutis AI offers a rich alternative."
Inspired by these ideas, Cooney envisioned an AI model that could provide useful information while remaining aligned with Catholic teaching and ethical reflection.
Acutis AI was created in collaboration with Cooney’s brother Thomas, a computer science student at Baylor University. The brothers, originally from Potomac, Maryland, developed the model outside their regular coursework and responsibilities as college students. The brothers said they recognized a need for an AI platform that could assist students and families while avoiding responses that contradict Catholic doctrine.
The platform is named after St. Carlo Acutis, the recently canonized millennial saint known for using digital technology to evangelize and promote devotion to the Eucharist. Acutis, who built websites documenting Eucharistic miracles and other Catholic resources, has become a symbol of how modern technology can serve faith and evangelization.
Cooney explains that the project aims not only to provide information but also to create a safer environment for young users online. “We want to provide a tool for young people to learn how to use AI responsibly while avoiding the dangers presented by the other models,” Cooney said. “It’s important that kids understand that AI is a tool and not a companion or a means to outsourcing thinking. We built Acutis to give answers that prioritize truth as outlined by the Church over affirmation and user retention.”
As artificial intelligence continues to shape academic, professional, and cultural life, initiatives such as Acutis AI demonstrate how students can bring philosophical and theological perspectives into technological development. For Cooney, the project reflects a broader mission: engaging modern technology in a way that serves truth, ethical responsibility and the common good.
His work on the project was recently featured on ChurchPop:
https://www.churchpop.com/catholic-brothers-and-college-students-create-new-ai-platform-in-honor-of-st-carlo-acutis/
