On Monday 11 February, the AI Faith and Civil Society Commission took part in the annual Paris Peace Forum. The event, titled “Wanted: A Functioning Global Order”, brought together Ministers from Europe, organisations from around the world, and thinkers from various disciplines, exploring a myriad of issues, such as climate change, the war in Ukraine, and, of course, artificial intelligence. 

Discussions about AI loomed large, given that Paris is due to host the next AI Safety Summit in February 2025. The Paris Peace Forum is a key partner leading the stated intention of convening civil society organisations - something severely lacking in Bletchley Park last year and Seoul this past spring. 

Having civil society organisations at the table when discussing the development and employment of AI systems is paramount. These organisations are not driven by shareholder profit and are liaising directly with populations that may be disproportionately impacted or not part of the discussion. 

However, as was the case at Bletchley Park and again at the Paris Peace Forum, faith voices were absent. The Commission had the opportunity to work with partners convening the only session at the Forum on how faith can address global crises, of which AI was mentioned. Moderated by Commissioner Zeshan Zafar, the panel made the case for why faith should be considered a legitimate and impactful actor when discussing crises and actionable solutions. Speaker Chris Sieple asked, “Are religious leaders prepared to engage government, and are government leaders prepared to engage religion?”.

This is the question we bring to Paris. 

The Commission elevates the voices of faith - leaders, technicians, and thinkers - and brings them into discussion with civil society and government in meaningful ways, whether through roundtables, conferences, publications, or open letters. Indeed, the elevation of faith voices should not come at the expense of other civil society organisations - in fact, the two can and should work in collaboration with one another. Faith should not be relegated to the sidelines but must also work creatively with the wider third sector. When it comes to ensuring that human values are preserved in the design, development and deployment of AI and doing so in a way which affirms the dignity of all people, faith and civil society organisations are powerful allies, and together they can better demand the attention of governments and international summits. 

The AI Faith and Civil Society Commission looks forward to engaging with key stakeholders and partners ahead of the next AI Safety Summit, addressing the ongoing lack of faith voices and proving that collaboration across these sectors is a strength and not something to be feared or overlooked. 

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