Religious leaders from around the world gather in Hiroshima, Japan, to sign the “Rome Call for AI Ethics,” emphasizing the vital importance of guiding the development of artificial intelligence with ethical principles that promote peace.
By Lisa Zengarini
Leaders of the world’s major religions gathered this week in the Japanese city of Hiroshima to reaffirm their commitment to ensuring that artificial intelligence (AI) is developed ethically and responsibly for peace.
Titled “AI Ethics for Peace: World Religions Commit to Answering the Call of Rome,” the two-day forum is co-organized by the Pontifical Academy of Life (PAV), Religions for Peace Japan, the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum of the United Arab Emirates, and the Interfaith Relations Commission of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
Signing of the “Rome Call for AI Ethics”
The highlight of the multi-faith event, which began Tuesday, will be the signing of the agreement. “Rome Call for AI Ethics”, ipublished in 2020 by the Pontifical Academy for Life and promoted by the RenAIssance Foundation, highlighting the vital importance of guiding the development of artificial intelligence with ethical principles to ensure that it serves the good of humanity.
The document, co-signed in Rome by Microsoft, IBM, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Italian government, aims to foster an ethical approach to artificial intelligence and promote a sense of responsibility among organizations, governments, information technology (IT) companies and institutions, in order to shape a future in which digital innovation and technological progress serve human genius and creativity while preserving the human dignity of each individual and of the planet.
A multi-religious approach to the challenges posed by AI
Following the signing of the “Rome Call” by the leaders of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam and Judaism) in 2023, in the name of peaceful coexistence and shared values, the event aims to reinforce the idea that a multi-religious approach to vital issues such as the ethics of AI is the way forward.
In a press release, the organizers emphasize that the choice of location has particular significance, as Hiroshima stands as a powerful testimony to the consequences of destructive technology and the ongoing quest for peace.
A shared responsibility for peace and our common home
In his opening speech to the session on Tuesday morning, the president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for LifeBishop Vincenzo Paglia, Pope Francis reiterated the crucial role that religions are called to play so that the development of artificial intelligence, “a great tool with unlimited possibilities of application,” goes hand in hand with the protection of the dignity of every human being and the preservation of our common home. “This is our common responsibility and in this common effort we can rediscover true fraternity,” he stressed.
Cooperation, solidarity and ethical integrity
Bishop Paglia’s words were echoed by the leaders of the other organizing partners. “Cooperation, solidarity and working together are necessary to address the developments in artificial intelligence,” said Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum. “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,” he said.
For his part, Rev. Yoshiharu Tomatsu, president of Religions for Peace in Japan, reiterated his organization’s commitment to ensuring that AI promotes “inclusion and mutual respect for all.”
Rabbi Eliezer Simha Weisz, a member of the Interfaith Relations Committee of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, stressed that as people of faith, religious leaders “have a unique responsibility to infuse our quest for AI with moral clarity and ethical integrity.”
He also stressed the need to 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. AI strengthens our faith in God, offering us ways to explore the intricacies of creation and the mysteries of existence,” he said.
Ethical governance of AI
Among other speakers on Tuesday, Father Paolo Benanti, professor of ethics of technology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, presented the Hiroshima Addendum on Generative AI. The document emphasizes the need for ethical governance of generative AI – an ongoing process that requires sustained engagement from all stakeholders so that its potential is used for the good of humanity.
Senior representatives from IT companies such as Microsoft, IMB Cisco, as well as officials from the UN and FAO also spoke on Tuesday.
The rally will conclude on July 10 with the signing of the “Rome Appeal.” After the testimony of an atomic bomb survivor, participants also plan to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Cenotaph for the atomic bomb victims, where they will lay flowers in their memory.
