By Agbonkhese Oboh

Religious leaders in Nigeria have stressed the need for regulatory guidelines for the use of Artificial Intelligence, AI, especially with the proliferation of Artificial General Intelligence, AGI.

The clerics, on the platform of Nigeria Religious Coalition on Artificial Intelligence (Christian Council of Nigeria, CCN, and Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI), gave the admonition and guidelines at a media interface held today, Tuesday, May 12, at Wesley Pastoral Centre, Yaba, Lagos.

The event was facilitated by CCN-Institute of Church and Society Ibadan, CCN-ICS, Ibadan, with the support of Future of Life Institute, USA.

The religious leaders, among other demands, called for their inclusion in the establishment of a framework from the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024, with special attention to Pillar 4.

Pillar 4

In his remarks, Very Rev. Kolade Fadahunsi, Director, CCN-ICS, Ibadan, stressed that it is dangerous to create a regulatory framework for the use of A(G)I without involving the clerics.

He explained that Pillar 4 of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024, spearheaded by the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, is “Ensuring Responsible and Ethical Al Development”.

“Article 4.11,” he noted, is “Create a High-Level Al Ethics Expert Group, AEEG/National Al Ethics Commission.

“This initiative aims to create a diverse and inclusive expert group of stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and civil society. This group of experts will guide the development and implementation of ethical Al principles in Nigeria.”
Conspicuously missing in that very vital group, he pointed out, are religious leaders. He said it was why the interface is focused on “Building voices of religious leaders, amplifying ethical position on AGI spread and super intelligence control”.

Note that AGI is an advanced form of AI that understands, learns, and applies knowledge across any intellectual task at a human or superhuman level.

However, for the Nigeria Religious Coalition on Artificial Intelligence, these abilities portends danger for humanity, culture and the young ones, hence the need to include religious leaders in the discourse by the Federal Government.

Statements

Furthermore, the clerics’ statements emphasised the importance of monitoring and regulating the use of A(G)I.

For Archbishop Adegbemi Adewale, Archbishop, Methodist Church Niger, Archdiocese of RIYE, Ogun State, “The existential threat of AGI is of concern to me and the Archdiocese. There should be extant laws to control what comes into our space, to protect our children.”

On his part, Elder Akaninyene Obot, National Treasurer of CCN, said: “The pursuit of AGI is an economic activity, which people have the right to engage in. But their endeavours should not affect out cultural and religious systems.”

Also, Archbishop Jeremiah Okunlola, CCN Chairman, South-West Zone, said: “As Christians, we believe in God, and were created in His image. So, AGI should be responsibly designed not to affect our belief in God.”

Rev Aloche of Lagos Presbyterian Church noted that AI has been useful, with its bad aspects like every other thing. “It can negatively impact critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills, especially, especially among young ones. AGI must not affect our dependance on God.”

‘Family bonding impacted’

Also speaking, Nneoma Mary Onyemara, Women Leader, Methodist Church, Abuja, noted that “Although AI is good, it has negative impact on bonding in the family institution. Also, it is promoting unhealthy competition, as the young women do not take advice from older ones anymore.”

Archbishop Bankole Faburoso of the Church of the Lord Worldwide, and Director of CCN Ecumenical Interface, said: “Given that AI is a helpful servant and dangerous master, we hold that technology should serve humanity. We should preach that AI serve, while God remains our compass.”

Archbishop Christopher Ede, Methodist Archbishop of Enugu, acknowledged that Al has been helpful to humanity. “But we’re getting worried with AGI,” he added.

“We run the risk of humanity being replaced by machines. Tools are begining to replace souls. But they do not serve repentance, salvation, and so on. So, without spirituality, AGI will lead to inequality and security threats. This is why it should be ethically monitored.”

Bishop Onyemara

In his closing remarks, Bishop Evans Onyemara, General Secretary, CCN, brought greetings from the Council’s President, the Most Rev. Dr. David O. C. Onuoha.

On the subject matter, he said having agreed on the need to intentionally call on the government to bring up policies that would help in the regulation of the use of A(G)I; and the need to continue teaching congregations and followers about A(G)I, its advantages and the dangers it portends without regulation, there are challenges duty places on clerics.

Bishop Onyemara said: “We are challenged with the duty of theological anthropology, which reminds us about the imago Dei, conscience, compassion, stewards of God’s creation.

“We have also heard the call for denominational dialogue beginning from the CCN member-churches on AI and our doctrinal standards.

“We are also hearing about escalating our position to CAN platforms to have a broader engagement in case the Federal Government would set up Commission for the control of AI.

“We are all concerned about safeguarding the future of our children, and we shall continue to do our best to see that AI and AGI will not overtake them and their future.”

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