A hybrid event on 25 September aimed at enhancing understanding among religious communities, civil society, and policymakers regarding the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence (AI), with a particular focus on issues related to peace, security, and the disarmament of autonomous weapons systems.
From campaigns against nuclear weapons and cluster munitions to recent efforts to raise awareness about killer robots and drones, religious leaders have consistently advocated for the ethical use of technology to safeguard humanity.
“The faith community has for millennia evolved with the changing signs of the times. Indeed, the printing press and translation transformed how people understood their faith,” said Dr Ryan Smith, World Council of Churches representative to the UN in New York. “Today, we embark on a time where technology can learn and must be diligent into how technology and our deep understanding of faith work together.”
There is a pressing need to address the ethical implications of technologies that have the potential to affect global peace and security, particularly in the context of autonomous weapons systems, or “killer robots.”
Religious leaders and peace-builders have increasingly called for a re-evaluation of new technologies. As the Summit of the Future at the UN addressed the themes of “digital and technology” and “peace and security,” the involvement of religious leaders presented a unique opportunity to participate in policy discussions and influence AI governance frameworks that prioritize human dignity and advance global peace and security.
For Isabelle Jones, from the Campaign to End Killer Robots, “technology can and should be used to promote peace, justice, and human rights, but in order for that to happen, we need responsibility for the development and the use of new technologies that we create and the roles that they play in our lives. We have the opportunity to do that.”
The Multifaith Advisory Council’s Peace and Security Working Group will convene religious actors, technology experts, policymakers, and broader civil society during the 2024 United Nations General Assembly to explore the nuances of artificial intelligence and its intersection with religion. Advocacy materials will be produced from key findings of the discussion.
Other speakers included Dr Francis Kuria Kagema, secretary general, Religions for Peace; René Holbach, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs; and Zeshan Zafar, commissioner AI Faith & Civil Society Commission.
The event was co-organized by the World Council of Churches, ACT Alliance, Religions for Peace, Lutheran World Federation, Finn Church Aid, Network for Religious & Traditional Peacemakers, and the Bahá’í International Community.
