The use of magnesium alloys in various industries and commerce is increasing due to their properties such as high strength and casting properties, high vibration damping capability, good shielding of electromagnetic radiation and high machinability. Conventional machining methods can, however, pose a risk of ignition. AWJM is a safe alternative to conventional machining, but the deflection and vibration of the water jet can affect surface quality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of selected AWJM parameters on the surface quality and vibration of machined magnesium alloys. Jet deflection angle, surface roughness parameters and vibration during AWJM were investigated. The findings showed that higher skewness occurred at a lower abrasive flow rate, while higher average values of the Sku roughness parameter were obtained at ma= 8 g/s in the range of 60–140 mm/min. It was also observed that higher vibration values occurred at ma= 8 g/s. The input parameters for creating an artificial neural network (ANN) model used in this study were the cutting speed vfand the mass flow rate ma. The results of this study provided valuable insights into ways of ensuring a safe and efficient machining environment for magnesium alloys. The use of ANN modeling for predicting the vibration and surface roughness of AZ91D magnesium alloy after water-jet cutting could be an effective tool for optimizing AWJM parameters.