By Agbonkhese Oboh

The Nigeria Religious Coalition on Artificial intelligence has made case for the involvement of religious bodies in the ethical aspect of Artificial intelligence, AI, to ensure the technology is not used devoid of what it means to be humans created by God.

The Coalition, comprising Christian Council of Nigeria, Institute of Church and Society Ibadan, CCN-ICS, and Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, with the support of the Future of Life Institute, FLI, made the call during a press briefing hosted by Renevlyn Development Initiative, RDI, in Lagos, yesterday.

Rt. Rev. E. Oluyinka Akande, Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Methodist Church Nigeria, said: “Our youths need to be re-oriented because they are very fast in these (technical) things.

“If care is not taken, it will get to a time they will l use it against you. Therefore, the religious body and Cloth should be carried along in the ethical aspect of Artificial intelligence, AI.”

Earlier in his speech, he said: “Religious communities may have the most significant stake in the conversation about AGI and personhood.

“One of the worst possible outcomes for A.I. is that of polarizing two worlds: the technological world and the religious world. There has been a significant lack of meaningful discourse between the two communities.

“This lack of dialogue has been discouraging and prevents religion from contributing a necessary perspective to technological development. If we do not include belief in the development of new technologies, we miss the opportunity to augment human life and benefit religion.

“If we somehow diminished personhood by creating artificial intelligence, that’s a bad thing. But, if we can create artificial intelligence that allows people to live life more fully, it could bring people closer to God.

“For popular religions in particular, the debate regarding personhood originates with the theological term Imago Dei, Latin for ‘image of God’. This term implies the relationship between humans’ and their divine creator.

“In the bible, the book of Genesis reads, ‘God created mankind in his image’. As theology goes, being created in the divine image affords an individual kind uniqueness to human beings.”

Recommendations

On what needs to be done, the Nigerian Religious Coalition said given the realities on ground, there should be greater religious engagement on questions around AI.

Also AI tools should be harnessed for progress in agriculture, health and education.

Furthermore, “We should prohibit uncontrollable Artificial General Intelligence, AGI, that will disempower human workers, undermine human relationships or decrease human agency.

“We should guard against AI becoming an idol or leading believers astray through manipulation.

“Specifically on religious applications, religious groups should be proactive to learn about, but cautious to apply, AI systems.

“AI, rashly employed, could dehumanise religious practices or be subverted by malicious actors into misleading congregations contrary to their doctrine. Yet careful discernment may yield useful practical applications, such as in speeding up administrative tasks,” Rt. Rev. Akande.

Also present at the briefing were Rt. Rev. Evans Onyemara, General Secretary, Christian Council of Nigeria; Very Rev. Kolade Fadahunsi, Director, Christian Council of Nigeria, Institute of Church and Society, Ibadan; Methodist Prelate, Bishop Ezekiel Akande.

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