Boston Global Forum World’s Congress of Religions in AI Responsibility: Faith and Reason in the AI age
Nature: place and context for the experience of God through African traditional religion
Prof. Martin Nkafu Nkemnkia
(Pontifical Lateran University, Vatican City)
In order to individuate some responsibilities of Religious Leaders in AI age, coming from Africa, I would like to present African Traditional Religion as a contribution for the building of the platform for religious leaders, scholars, AI experts and policymakers to share insights and collaborate on ethical development and deployment.
In Africa, it is the entire community which is involve in cultural and religious life of the society, thus, each and everyone is, in a certain way, the leader of all that concerns, tradition, system of the transmission of the cultural, human, religious and therefore spiritual values to the future generations.
At this point, one can already affirm that: any educational system comprises both human and spiritual dimension. Science or scientific knowledge is just an extension of the original human knowledge without attributing any conscious meaning to the achievement reached fore, the Soul, which is the vital force of every living being is absent and shall always be absent in any AI performance. Thanks to Energy any AI performance obeys strictly the duty assigned to the
machine which now enables human beings to dedicate more time to noble and divine achievements which is guaranteed by the Raison which distinguish every human/conscious being from all other creatures in the World. This is in fact, what brings every human being to cultivate relationship with the Creator, loving the Divine and becoming similar to the Creature who is the Author of Life, the Immortal and Everlasting.
In Africa, religious believes and practices are integral part of culture and as such there is no separation between what is purely cultural and what can be expressed as religion, there is no dichotomy between sacred and profane. In this also consist the unity of the human person in Africa. There are non-sacred minds and profane ones but one brain, one I, one Man/Woman, humanity created by God.
Religion has always been the way through which entire communities relate themselves to the ultimate reality which is God the Creator. The African God is the God of the people and not of the individual. In a context as that of Africa, religiously rooted and a holistic sense of the Sacred and the worship of God, an intimate part of the daily life, there is an impossibility of atheism or indifferences in matter of faith and Religion.
At the difference of many other religions in the world, African Traditional Religion (ATR) has no founder nor written sacred texts and neither shall there be reformers. In Africa religion is lived and not proclaimed, it is not transmitted through treaties but through experiences of life. Through religion the community speaks with God, dialogues with God through the Ancestors. This favours interreligious dialogue and universalises the religious experience of different peoples in the world. Science is the procedure through which humans beings contribute to make of the world the best place to live in.
Martin Nkafu Nkemnkia was born in Cameroon. He holds Doctorate Degrees in Philosophy (PhD) and in Theology (D.Th). – respectively, from the Pontifical Lateran University (PUL), Rome. Currently, he has thought “History of African Philosophy; Culture and Religions in Africa” (Faculty of Philosophy) and has been for two mandates (for a total of 10 years 2011-2020) the Director of The International Research Area – Interdisciplinary Studies for the Development of African Culture of the Pontifical Lateran University – Vatican City. Has also been a lecturer at the Pontifical Gregorian University (PUG). A formal member of the Italian Committee on the Reduction of Foreign Debts of Poor Nations (instituted by the Italian Episcopal conference); He has been a formal Member of the National (Italian) Commission for Intercultural Education in the Italian Ministry of Education and Scientific Research. Actually is a Member of Interreligious Centre of the Focolare Movement in charge of Dialogue between Christianism and African Traditional Religion (RTA), Asian Popular Religion (RPA) and Indigenous Religions of Oceania and Central America (RIA). Actually is the President of the Scientific Committee of the CRA-SGI Centre for Relations with Africa of the Italian Geographical Society and is the President of the Nkemnkia Community Development Empowerment International Foundation – Africa/Europa.
Minh Nguyen is the Editor of the Boston Global Forum and a Shinzo Abe Initiative Fellow. She writes the Four Pillars column in the BGF Weekly newsletter.
In the war in Gaza, IDF ground operations continue with the goal of encircling Gaza City, and eventually attempting to flush out Hamas from the tunnel networks. IDF leaders still have stated that the war is likely to last months or even years.
For the US part, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been traveling to the Middle East in an effort to shore up peacemaking efforts in the aftermath of the war, visiting Israel, Jordan, Palestine (West Bank), Turkey. He will also travel to Asia, namely South Korea and India, a Pillar, after the Middle East.
The US has also assessed that Iranian proxies in the region would not be likely to join in Hamas’ war, or open the second front. This can be seen with the ambivalent speech by Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, on November 3. However, groups like the Houthis in Yemen had declared war, but it seems their effects are negligible. The US continues to explore potential peacekeeping operations and forces in the prospect of the war’s end.
In the Pacific, Japan, a Pillar, has signed a deal to give the Philippines coastal radar and begin negotiations on a security pact. This shows the deepening ties to counter China’s rise and bullying of states in the Asia-Pacific, especially in regards to the South China Sea.
Italy’s regrets with the Belt and Road Initiative continues, which was described as “broken promises.” Italy has notably said that it wanted to leave the BRI during the G20 conference earlier this year. The EU (and Italy in it) has been backing the Indian alternative to it instead, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). This may allow India, a Pillar, to increase ties with the EU, another Pillar, while reducing Chinese influence on the continent as well.
At Harvard University’s Loeb House on November 2, 2023, distinguished guests attended to celebrate the 90th birthday of former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis. The event featured a series of momentous occasions, including the inauguration of AIWS City, the launch of the Liber Amicorum Book titled “Governor Michael Dukakis: From the Massachusetts Miracle to AIWS – the Age of Global Enlightenment,” and the delivery of a remarkable Distinguished Global Enlightenment Lecture by Amma, the recipient of the 2023 World Leader for Peace and Security Award.
The celebration was highlighted by prominent figures such as Governor Maura Healey, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin, Japanese Minister Sanae Takaichi, and many other respected individuals. The occasion was marked with heartwarming remarks, citation, and speeches, paying tribute to Governor Dukakis’s incredible contributions to the state and the world.
Furthermore, the event served as a platform for the announcement of two pivotal initiatives. The first, in collaboration with the Active Inference Institute, seeks to “Advance Human-Centered AI through Integration with Natural Systems and Neuroscience: Toward Policy and Societal Well-Being.” This initiative aims to explore the intersection of AI, natural systems, and neuroscience to enhance the well-being of society through advanced policy-making.
The second initiative, in partnership with Amrita University in India, introduces the “World’s Congress of Religions in AI Responsibility: Faith and Reason in the AI age.” This program will focus on the role of faith, compassion and ethical responsibility in the age of AI, bringing together leaders, thinkers, and policymakers to explore the ethical development and deployment of artificial intelligence.
Additionally, an important Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was announced between Boston Global Forum and Amrita University. This MOU signifies a collaborative effort to develop and deploy the AI World Society (AIWS) Initiative, further strengthening the commitment to advancing human-centered AI and the global enlightenment of society.
The event was not only a celebration of Governor Dukakis’s remarkable life but also a testament to the commitment of these leaders in driving forward initiatives that shape the future of AI, ethics, and global enlightenment.
Governor Dukakis’s 90th Birthday Celebration: Remarks of Senator Elizabeth Warren
“Good evening, Boston Global Forum. I am so sorry that I can’t be there with you in person, but I would not miss the opportunity to congratulate our good friend Governor Michael Dukakis, and wish him a very happy 90th birthday.
You know, throughout his decades-long career, Governor Dukakis has shown that he is a committed public servant, a tireless leader, and a strong voice for Massachusetts families. When he was first elected as governor back in 1974, he faced some of our Commonwealth’s toughest battles – up against a record deficit and high unemployment. Governor Dukakis took on these challenges with passion and persistence, and his leadership made a key difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands, millions of people across Massachusetts.
After retiring from politics, Michael brought that same passion and expertise to the classroom, teaching at UCLA, the University of Hawaii, and at our own Northeastern University. Now, when I first decided to run for the United States Senate back in 2012, Michael sat down with me and he told me the right way to run a campaign. He said, ‘Run a grassroots campaign, grounded in people, based in the neighborhoods, in the cities, in the towns all across our state.’ I listened. In fact, that is exactly what I did. I have been lucky enough to count on Michael’s support since that very first campaign, and it’s made a world of difference.
So, let me say this personally, Michael, thank you again for the work you do day in and day out to benefit families all across Massachusetts and all around the world. Congratulations on this tremendous honor, and I hope you have a very happy 90th birthday.”
The executive order directs the Department of Commerce to develop guidance for labeling AI-generated content. Federal agencies will be required to use AI watermarking – technology that marks content as AI-generated to reduce fraud and misinformation – though it’s not required for the private sector.
The executive order also recognizes that AI systems can pose unacceptable risks of harm to civil and human rights and the well-being of individuals: “Artificial Intelligence systems deployed irresponsibly have reproduced and intensified existing inequities, caused new types of harmful discrimination, and exacerbated online and physical harms.”
What the executive order doesn’t do
A key challenge for AI regulation is the absence of comprehensive federal data protection and privacy legislation. The executive order only calls on Congress to adopt privacy legislation, but it does not provide a legislative framework. It remains to be seen how the courts will interpret the executive order’s directives in light of existing consumer privacy and data rights statutes.
Without strong data privacy laws in the U.S. as other countries have, the executive order could have minimal effect on getting AI companies to boost data privacy. In general, it’s difficult to measure the impact that decision-making AI systems have on data privacy and freedoms.
It’s also worth noting that algorithmic transparency is not a panacea. For example, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation legislation mandates “meaningful information about the logic involved” in automated decisions. This suggests a right to an explanation of the criteria that algorithms use in their decision-making. The mandate treats the process of algorithmic decision-making as something akin to a recipe book, meaning it assumes that if people understand how algorithmic decision-making works, they can understand how the system affects them. But knowing how an AI system works doesn’t necessarily tell you why it made a particular decision.
With algorithmic decision-making becoming pervasive, the White House executive order and the international summit on AI safety highlight that lawmakers are beginning to understand the importance of AI regulation, even if comprehensive legislation is lacking.
During Governor Dukakis’s 90th Birthday Celebration held on November 2, 2023, at Harvard University Loeb House, Governor Dukakis delivered remarks on World Peace and Security:
“Dear honored guests,
Thank you for gathering today to commemorate my 90th birthday and discuss issues of global importance.
We have a responsibility to ensure the well-being of our world and the generations that will follow us. If there is a single theme that defines the challenge, it is the persistent need for peace and security. The world is in turmoil – a state of affairs that cannot be allowed to persist.
A pressing issue is the conflict in Ukraine. We must advocate for peace and call for Russia’s withdrawal from Ukrainian territory. We have a moral obligation to demand adherence to every nation’s right to sovereignty and self-determination – it’s the foundation of the international order.
The situation in Gaza likewise calls for a fair resolution to the conflict, one where peace and justice prevail for all people in the region and where dialogue and cooperation replace threats and violence as the instruments of policy.
For too long, many nations have suffered from prolonged conflict and instability. It is past time to invest in people’s education and disinvest in the weapons of war. Education alone is not sufficient but, without it, people of every nation, background, and faith will not have the secure lives they so justly deserve.
In closing, I want to say that the Boston Global Forum has no higher purpose than to do what it can to foster a world where the aspiration for peace becomes a global reality.
Thank you again for helping me celebrate my 90th and for all that you do, and have yet to do, to enhance international peace and security.”
Governor Michael Dukakis delivering his remarks at the event
During Governor Dukakis’s 90th Birthday Celebration held on November 2, 2023, at Harvard University Loeb House, Senator Ed Markey delivered his remarks through video:
“Good evening, everyone. What a tremendous honor it is to be celebrating the birthday of the man, the legend, my friend Michael Dukakis. And to Kitty, the indomitable Kitty, we know Mike would not be Mike without you, Kitty.
When Michael Dukakis became governor in 1974, we had been waiting for him. He was our generation’s leader, our conscience. He wasn’t just a thinker; he was a doer. As a state representative in 1974, I saw firsthand what he has done for Massachusetts and the entire country. It’s immeasurable because you can’t spell ‘Dukakis’ without ‘do.’ And he is still a doer, through the Dukakis Center, his work increasing access to transportation options and his tenacity in making the north-south Rail Link a reality for the region. We’ll get it done, Michael.
He’s a model for the transportation systems he advocates for. He doesn’t slow down. I know this firsthand from all of the work I’ve done with Mike and Kitty over the years.
During my 2013 Senate race, we had a moment in Lowell where Kitty and Michael were speaking to Cambodians through a translator. He talked about the need for democracy, and access to opportunity for everyone, especially immigrants. He told the story of how his own father immigrated to Lowell from Greece to become a doctor. He was able to raise a child who could become governor of Massachusetts and have a child who could be running for the presidency of the United States. The Cambodian people in that room were all nodding their heads, hoping that the American dream could be part of their family’s history as well.
And here’s what I know from that interaction: the Greeks may have invented democracy, but Mike Dukakis invented grassroots politics in Massachusetts. There’s an ancient Greek term called Agape, which means giving yourself the ability to respond to human suffering. That’s what Michael Dukakis has done every day of his career and his life. He has given immeasurably to the cities and towns of Massachusetts, to the people of Massachusetts and our country, and to our very democracy. He reminds us that the potential of our state, our nation, and our democracy rests on our ability to harness the potential of our people. And that is a commitment that Michael Dukakis has delivered on every day of his 90 years.
In many ways, everyone here knows one thing: that Michael Dukakis just may be the organizing principle of all of our lives. That’s how powerful of an influence he’s had upon all of us and upon this world that we live in.
So, happy birthday, Michael. Have a wonderful time; you deserve it. But I know one thing, you’re all not slowing down, and you never will.”
Minh Nguyen is the Editor of the Boston Global Forum and a Shinzo Abe Initiative Fellow. She writes the Four Pillars column in the BGF Weekly newsletter.
This week saw the expansion of the ground war in Gaza. The IDF began pushing deeper into Gaza and expanded ground troop involvement. Israeli officials have been hesitant to call it a proper ground invasion though, perhaps in order to avoid an escalation by Hezbollah and Iran.
Germany has also been preparing for a military evac from Israel, stationing soldiers to Cyprus. However, there is danger of the war widening to the whole Middle East region. As Hezbollah and Iran have been saber-rattling over an IDF ground response, the US has responded in kind with deterrence, sending two carrier strike groups to the Eastern Mediterranean. The US has also conducted an airstrike in Syria on Iran-linked militant groups, after they (and other Iranian proxies) have fired upon US bases in the region. Furthermore, they have noted that Iran will be held responsible for any attack. The White House is preparing for a broader war too, as tension rises.
Over in the Pacific, there is a storm brewing too. Incidents in the South China Sea by China towards the Philippines have created concerns for safety in the region. The Philippines, traditionally a US ally and one (or rather, many) of the islands in the “Island Chain”, had been drifting out of alignment with the US during the late 2010s, but have been building ties back up again in light of increasing Chinese aggression. These recent provocations by China have not just been accidental, but deliberate actions perhaps. They must be countered and deterred not just by the US, but the Four Pillars.
It is also worth reading US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s piece in Foreign Affairs, which articulated the foreign policy vision of the US and the Biden administration.
The alarm over the “existential threat” of AI is resounding throughout social, popular, and trade media. Calls for the pause, regulation and ethical oversight over AI are ubiquitous. Tech giants like Open AI, Meta, MS, Google and slew of well-funded startups are decrying the perils of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) while developing and promoting their own AI products. Yet there is little discussion of the impending science of what intelligence might be and its origin in the fundamental physics of life, and hence, the natural role of “intelligence” in all aspects of life, human and non-human. The current framing of threats and opportunities are all in the context of machine-based AI, where the formative issues are engineering and commercial viability to be mitigated by historically failed modes of regulation and oversight. The business models and regulatory models remain the same, the a priori extraction of maximum value by private interests with the a posteriori mitigation of negative externalities by public institutions. It is an open question whether such default modes of oversight will suffice for AI.
There are those of us, however, that believe we are the brink of an exciting, foundational, cross disciplinary scientific “breakthrough” in our understanding of what constituted “living things”, and “extended cognition” at all scales and domains. This breakthrough is every bit as consequential as genomics and synthetic biology, and therefore, emphatically should be treated with the same, if not even greater, oversight scientific caution and rigor. If at all possible, “AI” should not become captive to unbridled commercial and political interests as has been the record for the many technological innovations. That may prove to be a naive hope, as already machine learning algorithms to enhance “engagement” (e.g., addiction) continue to spread cognitive opiates of fear, grievance, and conspiracy. Such elementary AI have fundamentally contorted public perceptions of vaccinations, elections, the economy, history, and even science itself. Should this trend continue, and indeed be amplified through “AI”, the need, indeed, the demand for trusted evidence-based, tested, and calibrated content and expertise will become paramount. If, as many analysts predict, “Artificial Intelligence” will be ubiquitous and underpin virtually every application and organizational function imaginable, then intelligence itself must be understood in the most rigorous of scientific protocols and adhere to principles of data provenance. To inoculate ourselves from the future abuses of Artificial Intelligence, much less Artificial Generalized Intelligence (AGI), we will need the through and independent vetting and protocols of science. We will need policy and technology be thoroughly grounded and vetted by the very of best scientific practices. Such an approach might lead to new ways of overseeing and directing AI that are not a posteriori corrective, but a priori principles intrinsic to the forms of intelligence being synthesized.
Through the combined efforts of the Active Inference Institute, whose founding principles are grounded in science and the computational physics and biology of living intelligences and open technologies, and the Boston Global Forum, whose mandate is the formation of global policies and AI World Society model for the inclusive and beneficial application of AI, there can be real opportunities to not only influence the public narrative around AI, but undertake collaborations to further the scientific understanding of living intelligences and provide scientifically informed policies and guidance. The signatories to the attached letter embrace these views and those expressed in the signatory letter.
As you celebrate your 90th birthday, I extend my heartfelt congratulations on reaching this remarkable milestone. Your contributions as Governor of Massachusetts, your leadership at the Boston Global Forum, and your pivotal role in the AI World Society, a significant initiative for a better world with AI, have left an indelible mark on our world. I hold deep appreciation for the valuable insights you shared with me, especially your experiences from the Korean War, during our time together at your home. In a world where the struggle between democracy and autocracy continues to intensify, marked by events like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the terrorist attacks on Israel, your profound knowledge, experience, and unwavering commitment to peace are more crucial than ever.
As we face these global challenges, I look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts to steer the world toward a more peaceful future, side by side. Your wisdom and dedication remain indispensable on this journey. I offer my sincerest prayers for your ongoing health and well-being and wish for your continued significant contributions in the years ahead.
