Faith and technology leaders opened a new global effort in New York to shape common ethical rules for artificial intelligence, with the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities convening the first roundtable on the Charter of Religions and AI.
The meeting brought together senior officials, AI and technology organisations, major religious institutions, civil society representatives and international experts for talks aimed at building consensus on how fast-moving AI systems should be developed and used without weakening human dignity, social trust or community safety. The initiative draws heavily on the UAE’s positioning as a technology-forward country that also places public emphasis on social cohesion, tolerance and protection of vulnerable groups.
The New York gathering is the first stage in a wider series of international consultations expected to continue through 2026. Further roundtables are planned in Paris, Nairobi, Shanghai, Singapore, Bengaluru and Vatican City, before a high-level summit in Abu Dhabi. That summit is expected to launch an “Ethical Compass for Artificial Intelligence”, designed as a global framework for governments, technology developers, faith institutions and civil society organisations.
Participants in New York focused on the ethical challenges created by the rapid spread of AI tools across public life, including digital disinformation, algorithmic bias, opaque decision-making, online manipulation and the growing influence of machine-generated content on belief, identity and public trust. The talks also examined how religious institutions can engage with technology companies without slowing innovation or turning ethical concerns into symbolic declarations with limited practical effect.
The Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities, established in 2018 and based in Geneva, has previously worked on child dignity, online safety and community protection. Its move into AI governance reflects a broader shift in global policy debates, where regulators and civic groups are increasingly treating AI not only as an industrial or security issue, but also as a social force affecting education, religion, family life, democracy and public discourse.
The Charter of Religions and AI seeks to create a unified platform linking religious leaders, AI builders, policymakers and international experts. Its backers argue that faith communities can bring moral authority and cultural insight to discussions that are often dominated by technical, commercial or legal language. The project’s declared aim is to produce shared principles and voluntary pledges that can guide AI firms, religious institutions and multi-stakeholder coalitions.
The initiative arrives as governments and international organisations accelerate efforts to regulate AI. UNESCO’s global ethics recommendation, the United Nations’ work on safe and trustworthy AI, and the European Union’s risk-based AI Act have all placed human rights, transparency, safety and accountability at the centre of the debate. Yet implementation remains uneven, with technology companies warning against overregulation and rights advocates arguing that voluntary commitments have often failed to prevent harm.
For faith institutions, the challenge is especially complex. AI systems are already being used to generate sermons, answer spiritual questions, translate sacred texts, moderate online communities and produce religious images or commentary. These uses raise concerns about doctrinal accuracy, cultural context, authorship, manipulation and the risk that believers may treat automated responses as moral authority. At the same time, AI can help preserve languages, widen access to education, detect online abuse and support humanitarian work.
The UAE’s role in the initiative is consistent with its broader investment in artificial intelligence, digital government and interfaith diplomacy. The country appointed a ministerial-level AI portfolio years before many governments began formalising national AI strategies, and it has promoted interreligious dialogue through platforms linked to Abu Dhabi. That background gives the new charter both diplomatic visibility and a test of whether ethical technology initiatives can move beyond conference language into operational guidance.
The meeting brought together senior officials, AI and technology organisations, major religious institutions, civil society representatives and international experts for talks aimed at building consensus on how fast-moving AI systems should be developed and used without weakening human dignity, social trust or community safety. The initiative draws heavily on the UAE’s positioning as a technology-forward country that also places public emphasis on social cohesion, tolerance and protection of vulnerable groups.
The New York gathering is the first stage in a wider series of international consultations expected to continue through 2026. Further roundtables are planned in Paris, Nairobi, Shanghai, Singapore, Bengaluru and Vatican City, before a high-level summit in Abu Dhabi. That summit is expected to launch an “Ethical Compass for Artificial Intelligence”, designed as a global framework for governments, technology developers, faith institutions and civil society organisations.
Participants in New York focused on the ethical challenges created by the rapid spread of AI tools across public life, including digital disinformation, algorithmic bias, opaque decision-making, online manipulation and the growing influence of machine-generated content on belief, identity and public trust. The talks also examined how religious institutions can engage with technology companies without slowing innovation or turning ethical concerns into symbolic declarations with limited practical effect.
The Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities, established in 2018 and based in Geneva, has previously worked on child dignity, online safety and community protection. Its move into AI governance reflects a broader shift in global policy debates, where regulators and civic groups are increasingly treating AI not only as an industrial or security issue, but also as a social force affecting education, religion, family life, democracy and public discourse.
The Charter of Religions and AI seeks to create a unified platform linking religious leaders, AI builders, policymakers and international experts. Its backers argue that faith communities can bring moral authority and cultural insight to discussions that are often dominated by technical, commercial or legal language. The project’s declared aim is to produce shared principles and voluntary pledges that can guide AI firms, religious institutions and multi-stakeholder coalitions.
The initiative arrives as governments and international organisations accelerate efforts to regulate AI. UNESCO’s global ethics recommendation, the United Nations’ work on safe and trustworthy AI, and the European Union’s risk-based AI Act have all placed human rights, transparency, safety and accountability at the centre of the debate. Yet implementation remains uneven, with technology companies warning against overregulation and rights advocates arguing that voluntary commitments have often failed to prevent harm.
For faith institutions, the challenge is especially complex. AI systems are already being used to generate sermons, answer spiritual questions, translate sacred texts, moderate online communities and produce religious images or commentary. These uses raise concerns about doctrinal accuracy, cultural context, authorship, manipulation and the risk that believers may treat automated responses as moral authority. At the same time, AI can help preserve languages, widen access to education, detect online abuse and support humanitarian work.
The UAE’s role in the initiative is consistent with its broader investment in artificial intelligence, digital government and interfaith diplomacy. The country appointed a ministerial-level AI portfolio years before many governments began formalising national AI strategies, and it has promoted interreligious dialogue through platforms linked to Abu Dhabi. That background gives the new charter both diplomatic visibility and a test of whether ethical technology initiatives can move beyond conference language into operational guidance.
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