Eleven world religions, sixteen new signatories, thirteen nations present, more than 150 participants: these are some of the figures from AI Ethics for Peace, the historic multi-religious event held in Hiroshima, Japan, on July 9-10.
“All religions are called to work together for the good of humanity that inhabits this planet, and for the preservation of the planet itself, the common home of all living beings. This concerns all aspects of our lives, and therefore also all the new tools that technological progress makes available to us. Artificial intelligence is one of them: a formidable tool with unlimited possibilities of application, which can and must be guided so that its potential serves the good from the moment of its conception. This is our common responsibility, and in this shared effort, we can rediscover true brotherhood. In Hiroshima, a place of the highest symbolic value, we strongly invoke peace, and we ask that technology be an engine of peace and reconciliation between peoples. We are here, together, to say loud and clear that standing together and acting together is the only possible solution.”
With these words, Msgr. Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, greeted the first day of AI Ethics for Peacethe historic multi-religious event that saw 16 religious leaders representing most of the world’s religions sign the Rome Call for AI Ethics on Wednesday, July 10.
In the opening speeches, significant words were also spoken by the leaders of the other organizing partners:
“Our mission as Religions for Peace in Japan is to support and guide efforts to strengthen equality and mutual respect between individuals and institutions throughout society, based on our shared spiritual goals. Recent advances in artificial intelligence have given rise to powerful new tools that can potentially aid these efforts or, when used for other purposes, significantly undermine them. Recognizing these challenges, we are committed to upholding our commitments to inclusion and mutual respect for all,” said Rev. Yoshiharu Tomatsu, President of Religions for Peace in Japan.
“Cooperation, solidarity and working together are necessary to confront the developments of artificial intelligence, in which interests, harms and benefits are mixed, to ensure that its systems and products are not only technically advanced but also morally sound. This will require collective effort and continuous work. In doing so, we can pave the way for a future in which AI is a force for good – a future in which the fruits of technology are harnessed to build a more tolerant, peaceful and virtuous world,” said HE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum and Chairman of the UAE Fatwa Council.
“As people of faith, we have a unique responsibility to infuse our pursuit of AI with moral clarity and ethical integrity. Let us use AI not only as a tool for progress, but also as a means to deepen our connection to the divine and strengthen our spiritual journey. Through AI, we can advance medical research, improve access to education, and address societal challenges with a renewed sense of purpose and conviction. AI strengthens our faith in God, providing us with ways to explore the intricacies of creation and the mysteries of existence,” said Rabbi Eliezer Simha Weisz, a member of the Interfaith Relations Committee of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
The choice to hold this event in Hiroshima has a deeply symbolic significance, as no other city bears witness as it does to the consequences of destructive technology and the need for a lasting quest for peace.
AI Ethics for Peace brought together the world’s major religions for two days to highlight their crucial importance in building a society in which, in the face of the relentless acceleration of technology, the call for technological development that protects the dignity of every human being and the entire planet becomes a reality.
This will only be possible if algorithmicthat is, the development and application of an ethics of artificial intelligence, becomes an indispensable element by design, that is, from the moment of its conception.
Notable was the conference by Father Paolo Benanti, professor of ethics of technology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, who presented the Hiroshima film Addendum on Generative AIThis paper emphasizes the need for ethical governance of generative AI—an ongoing, iterative process that requires sustained engagement from all stakeholders to ensure its potential is used for the good of humanity.
The application of the principles of the Rome Call to the reality of the world of technology and the responsibility shared by AI producers were noted by the major technology leaders present.
“With its profound place in human history, Hiroshima serves as a compelling backdrop to help ensure that technology created by humanity serves all of humanity and our common home,” said Brad Smith, corporate vice president and president of Microsoft and one of the original signatories of the appeal.
“AI is a technology that impacts every country, every industry, and every value system, and its benefits are expected to impact all of humanity. It is with great pride that IBM renews its commitment to the Rome Call for AI Ethics, along with new like-minded Eastern religious leaders. Delivering on our commitments is paramount, and through initiatives like the AI Alliance, we are uniting developers, researchers, industry leaders, and advocates to seamlessly advance safe and responsible AI, rooted in open innovation,” said Dario Gil, senior vice president and chief research officer, IBM.
“Cisco is proud to be part of the Rome Call, and we believe that ensuring the broadest possible participation is a fundamental step toward a global approach to responsible AI. For 40 years, Cisco has built the networks that connect people and organizations around the world, and today we are building the network and security infrastructure to power AI. And we remain committed to our ambition of using AI to help create an inclusive future for all,” said Dave West, president of Cisco, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China.
Among the many distinguished speakers who enriched the event by bringing multiple perspectives on the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence, the opening address by Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy for Technology, was notable: “The Rome Call for AI Ethics embodies the spirit needed for global AI governance. It comes at a critical time ahead of the Future Summit and brings together diverse faith perspectives in a shared vision of ethical and human-centered AI. The Call is a continuation of the UN Secretary-General’s efforts to ensure that AI governance is global, inclusive, and dedicated to promoting peace and human dignity for all.”
The speech by Eriko Hibi, Director of the FAO Liaison Office in Japan, was also very useful: “Artificial intelligence offers a crucial opportunity to accelerate the transformation of agri-food systems and achieve sustainable development by optimizing agricultural practices, improving supply chain efficiency and empowering smallholder farmers to innovate and rely on data.”
On Wednesday, July 10, the celebration of AI Ethics for Peace continued with religious leaders representing various faiths from the Eastern world (such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Bahá’í and many others), accompanied by leaders from the Abrahamic religions (Christian, Jewish and Muslim), signing the Rome Call for AI Ethics in the evocative setting of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
The new signatories, in the presence of senior representatives of the Japanese government and major technology companies Microsoft, IBM and Cisco, signed the Call which calls for the application, in the field of AI, of algorithmics, that is to say ethics by design.
A musical interlude by the flute quartet of the “Elisabeth University of Music” (Hiroshima City) introduced the signing ceremony of the Rome Appeal, during which a member of each of the world religions involved made a brief statement.
On the second day of the event, the organizing partners (Pontifical Academy for Life, Religions for Peace Japan, Abu Dhabi Peace Forum of the United Arab Emirates, Commission for Interreligious Relations of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel) presented a document entitled Hiroshima Callin which, in addition to reiterating the need to use AI only for the good of humanity and the planet, they urged the international community to use peaceful means to resolve any conflict in order to achieve an immediate cessation of all armed conflicts.
