by Editor | Jun 17, 2024 | Global Alliance for Digital Governance
On June 1, 2024, the International Inter-religious Conference at the Vatican marked a historic milestone with the groundbreaking ideas presented by Boston Global Forum (BGF) CEO Nguyen Anh Tuan. During the panel titled “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Interpersonal Relationships and Between Religions,” Tuan called upon all participants of the conference, leaders of religions, distinguished thinkers, innovators, and companies to join in taking action for equality of opportunities in AI.
In his address, Nguyen Anh Tuan emphasized the crucial role of interfaith and interreligious cooperation in bring their spiritual values to build the Knowledge Platform for AI and announced that the Boston Global Forum would collaborate with religious leaders to ensure equality of opportunity for every person, company, country, and religion in AI. This initiative aims to foster a new democracy, happiness, and safety for humanity.
Pope Francis delivered a welcome speech to participants of the conference on June 3, 2024, at the Clementine Hall, Vatican.
On Friday afternoon June 14, 2024, Pope Francis addressed the G7 leaders’ summit in Puglia, Italy.
He is the first Pope to ever address the forum, which brings together the leaders of the US, UK, Italy, France, Canada, Germany, and Japan.
The ’techno-human condition’
Noting that AI is “above all a tool”, the Pope spoke of what he called the “techno-human condition”.
He explained that he was referring to the fact that humans’ relationship with the environment has always been mediated by the tools that they have produced.
Some, the Pope said, see this as a weakness, or a deficiency; however, he argued, it is in fact something positive. It stems, he said, from the fact that we are beings “inclined to what lies outside of us”, beings “radically open to the beyond.”
This openness, Pope Francis said, is both the root of our “techno-human condition” and the root of our openness to others and to God, as well as the root of our artistic and intellectual creativity.
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-06/pope-g7-artifical-intelligence-objective-neutral.html
by Editor | Jun 17, 2024 | News
At the G7 Leaders’ Summit kick-off, 2020 World Leader for Peace and Security Award, President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, delivered her message on the G7 Summit 2024 in Bari, Italy:
- “In turbulent times, the strongest message we can send is unity.
Unity for Ukraine’s freedom.
Unity for a peaceful and stable Middle East and the three-phase plan.
Unity for a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Alessandro Della Valle / AP
by Editor | Jun 17, 2024 | News
Lila Kee, the General Manager for GlobalSign‘s North and South American operations, as well as the company’s Chief Product Officer.
AI Governance In Action
These key points were top of mind at a recent event I attended, sponsored by the Boston Global Forum (BGF), titled “Governing the Future: AI, Democracy and Humanity.” The event was facilitated by BGF cofounder Nguyen Anh Tuan and attended by leaders in academia, technology and public policy. Dr. Alondra Nelson, Harold F. Linder Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study, also spoke about the importance of ensuring policy innovation keeps up with AI innovation.
My takeaway was that policymakers and stakeholders shouldn’t overly fret about not having a deep understanding of the technology stack behind AI. Instead, they should focus on how AI could help sustain and enhance global initiatives impacting human rights.
Industry initiatives, for example, are focusing on developing standards to distinguish between AI-generated and original images. The AI Governance Alliance advocates for traceability in AI-generated content; this could be achieved through various watermarking techniques. Similarly, C2PA, an industry-led coalition, focuses on the traceability of original and real-world captured content.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2024/06/13/the-role-of-government-and-industry-in-safeguarding-ai/
by Editor | Jun 10, 2024 | News
It has been assessed by American and Four Pillars defense officials that the Russian advance on Kharkiv is ‘all but over,’ indicating that Russia has yet again failed to make major advances since 2022, or last year if one counts their gains in the Donbas regions. It is clear over the past year that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has turned into a war of attrition between the two countries, with current frontlines calcifying into status quo. The question now is to see who can outlast their opponent, if this turns into a long attritional war a la Iran-Iraq, and with that, if the conflict remains frozen or ends decisively.
Another thing of note, not to celebrate too early, but it appears the worst factors for Ukraine have passed. After the unsuccessful counter-offensive, events seemed to keep stacking against Ukraine and Zelenskyy: severe lack of ammunition and manpower, the stalling of aid from the Four Pillars, wavering enthusiasm both domestic and international, and Russia’s expansion of its war capacity. This was marked by Russian captures of towns in the Donbas toward the end last year, and many worried if Ukraine could survive a reorganized Russian offensive. Even with their own shortfalls, Ukraine was able to hold out until aid packages began again from the US, and members of the Four Pillars via NATO such as France offered military advisors on the ground – which is helping reinforce the gaps. However, other attritional issues continue to plague them. On the other hand, while Russia has postured strength both domestically and to Ukraine’s supporters, such as threatening to strike NATO members and Putin’s enjoyment of Russian support or apathy towards the war, there have been claims of cracks in the foundation, that Russia may not have time for a major offensive or breakthrough or its economy is overheating.
This month has already seen four notable elections in the world – South Africa, India (a Pillar), Mexico, and the European Parliament. Although not earthshaking like the upcoming ones, they are still interesting indicators of global sentiments vis-a-vis voter’s own domestic concerns and feelings on global issues, where the Four Pillars space is concerned. Upcoming elections this year include the UK, France (Macron in fact called a snap election after the EP election), and of course, the US. Keep in mind that these countries are all Pillars. While not policy or global peace and security specific, these elections are still worth keeping an eye on as a vibe barometer of sorts, and to see the strengths and weaknesses of the rules-based order. On the anniversary of D-Day, as Biden and Macron have done this past week, let us remember the sacrifices made for freedom and democracy that should be upheld and preserved now and eternal.
Articles of the week – India, Mexico, South Africa Went to the Polls. Here’s What We Learned. [Politico]; Biden links WW2 and Ukraine war in D-Day address [BBC]
Minh Nguyen is the Chief Editor of the Boston Global Forum and a Shinzo Abe Initiative Fellow. She writes the Four Pillars column in the BGF Weekly newsletter.
by Editor | Jun 9, 2024 | Event Updates, News
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
I greet the President of the Focolare Movement, to whom I say that I am praying very much for your country which is suffering at this time. I also warmly welcome all the participants in this Interreligious Conference. I express my gratitude for the perseverance with which the Work of Mary continues the journey begun by Chiara Lubich, fostering unity with people of non-Christian religions who share the spirituality of unity. This was a revolutionary journey that did much good for the Church. It is an experience animated by the Holy Spirit, rooted, we can say, in the heart of Christ, in his thirst for love, communion and fraternity.
Indeed, it is the Spirit who opens paths of dialogue and encounter, at times surprising ones. This happened more than fifty years ago in Algeria, when an all-Muslim community adhering to the Movement was born. It also happened with Chiara Lubich’s meetings with leaders of various religions: Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs, and others. This dialogue has flourished over time, as evidenced by your presence today.
The foundation of this experience is the love of God expressed through mutual love, listening, trust, hospitality and getting to know one another, all the while fully respecting each other’s identities. Over time, friendship and cooperation have grown in seeking to respond together to the cry of the poor, in caring for creation and in working for peace. Through this journey, some non-Christian brothers and sisters have shared in the spirituality of the Work of Mary, or in some of its characteristic traits, and live according to them amongst their own people. With these men and women, we transcend dialogue, we feel like brothers and sisters, sharing the dream of a more united world, in the harmony of diversity.
Dear friends, your witness is a source of joy and a source of consolation, especially in this time of conflict, when religion is often misused in order to fuel division. Indeed, interreligious dialogue “is a necessary condition for peace in the world, and so it is a duty for Christians as well as other religious communities” (Evangelii Gaudium, 250). I encourage you, then, to move forward and always be open.
May the Lord bless all of you. May he grant his blessing to each one of you, for the Lord is close to us all. May the Lord bless you. Amen.
