Some Bishops and a coalition of religious organisations, on Thursday, called for a legal framework to regulate the use of Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria.
The coalition and the clerics, under the aegis of the Nigeria Religious Coalition on Artificial Intelligence, comprising Christian Council of Nigeria, Institute of Church and Society, Ibadan,(CCS-ICN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam, (JNI) with support of Future of Life Institute ( FLI), made the call at a press conference held at the Conference Hall of the Institute of Church and Society, Samonda, Ibadan.
In an address titled: ” God in the Engine: Religion and Artificial Intelligence”, delivered by the Bishop, Diocese of Agodi Methodist Church, Nigeria, Rt. Rev. Oluwole Onaleke, said there was an urgent need for the National Assembly to enact a bill to regulate AI, warning of the disastrous consequences it might have on the human race.
While emphasising the need for religious wisdom, the group alleged AI companies are aiming “to change what it means to be human and create their own small world”, vowing to stand against anything that will take away the place of God in the life of men.
“It is a fact that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the power to make the world move fast and proffer solutions to specific issues in today’s society. Also, it is no longer news that AI has come to stay in today’s world. But we will be lying to ourselves if we think that technological development does not have an effect on humanity or have the tendency to make men think and act like they are God, even when such acts affect their fellow humans.
“Consequently, it is important for religious communities to have conversations on the need to create a balance between the technological world and the religious world so that what is meant to give relief will not create a more deadly problem for humanity,” he stated.
The coalition charged the Nigerian government with the need for concrete policies that would necessitate the establishment of international governance frameworks to safeguard against the global risks of world-leading AI developments.
Onaleke said: ‘’It calls for greater religious engagement on questions around AI, and above all supports the following: We should harness AI tools for progress in agriculture, health and education.
“We should prohibit uncontrollable Artificial General Intelligence that will dis-empower human workers, undermine human relationships. We should guard against AI becoming an idol or leading believers astray through manipulation.
” 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 ínto misleading congregations contrary to their doctrine. Yet careful discernment may yield useful practical applications, such as in speeding up administrative tasks.”
The Director of the Institute of Church, Very Rev Kolade Fadahunsi, said: ‘’ We can’t submit our intellect to machines. As a religious body, we want to be involved in policies on the consumption of AI.
In their remarks, the Chairman, Institute of Church and Society, Ven. Femi Taiwo; the Bishop, Methodist Church, Diocese of Elekuro, Ibadan, Rt Rev. David Adekoya; and the Project Coordinator, Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria, (FOMWAN), Alhaja Airat Ogungbenro said religious organisations should devise ways of engaging with the government in evolving policies that would address the challenges posed by the use of AI on religious bodies and the youth.
