Faith, morality and AI: Doha Debates asks who gets to decide

Doha Debates recently hosted a town hall discussion on the role of faith in shaping artificial intelligence (AI) and who should be responsible for setting the moral and ethical values that guide its development. The event, titled "Should AI be shaped by faith?", took place on October 15 at Multaqa, Education City Student Centre. Doha Debates managing director Amjad Atallah emphasized that the discussion aimed to explore who should determine the principles embedded in AI technology, not just its capabilities.

Atallah pointed out that AI company leaders are increasingly relying on their products, asking for public trust, but neglecting the role of faith traditions in shaping these tools. The central question raised at the debate was whether humans or AI would ultimately be shaping society. Doha Debates, produced by Qatar Foundation, brought together a diverse group of perspectives, including AI philosopher Yaqub Chaudhary, Notre Dame Law School professor of canon law Monsignor John Paul Kimes, and author, strategic futurist, and transhumanist Max More.

Atallah highlighted two main tensions in the debate: authority and the challenge of moral neutrality. He questioned who should decide which values a global technology should reflect and whether it is possible and desirable for a single AI system to serve individuals with varying beliefs and moral frameworks. Additionally, the focus shifted from a previous Doha Debates town hall that debated humanity's readiness for superintelligence to a more deliberate emphasis on values and principles.

The discussion aimed to involve students and young professionals from Qatar to reflect Doha Debates' commitment to youth voices and Qatar Foundation's mission to unlock human potential. With AI becoming increasingly ubiquitous in daily life, the town hall sought to engage young participants who still remember life before AI, providing them a unique opportunity to shape the technology's future.

However, the goal was not to force consensus but to encourage critical examination of the systems people rely on and the values that guide them.

Doha Debates hopes the debate will prompt individuals from all belief systems to question whose values are embedded in the tools they use and who benefits from those decisions. The full town hall will be released on DohaDebates.com and digital platforms in December, continuing the conversation beyond the event.