Faith leaders and civil society organisations have united to launch a platform giving the public a greater say in how Artificial Intelligence regulation is shaped.
Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, which launched the commission supported by UK consultancy Good Faith Partnership, is carving out a worldwide remit to ensure big tech companies do not steer the conversation towards existential risk, while “racing ahead” with the technology without constraints.
Concerns around data privacy, disinformation and the potential exclusion of minority communities are just some of the issues posed by AI.
But they tend to be overshadowed by conversations over the technology’s long-term existential risk.
The new commission into AI, Faith and Civil Society, launched in London, will address the gaps in communication between people and policymakers by arranging meetings with faith leaders and minority groups.
“Civil society isn't being fully heard within the sort of AI regulatory discussions that are taking place. And so the aim of the commission is to bring those voices and faith voices to the table,” Rabbi Harris Bor, a member of the commission, told The National.
The commission’s findings over the course of the next year will be presented to governments in the UK and UAE with the capacity to influence technology companies.
“We are building bridges of knowledge between all fields of thoughts and policymakers, not only in the UAE, but to the two billion Muslims around the world,” said Sheikh Al Mahfoudh bin Bayyah, secretary general of the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace.
A caravan of faith
Sheikh Al Mahfoudh bin Bayyah
By working alongside UAE universities, the commission will also seek to raise awareness of AI among Muslim communities in the Global South, so they can use it to “serve their communities”.
“The bridging of knowledge is very important, especially when [many] people, particularly in Islam, reject scientific findings,” he told The National.
He described the commission as a “caravan of faith” that would hold meetings with representatives of African governments in Mauritania in January, and others in the Vatican and Silicon Valley next year.
Such collaborations could also help mitigate the risks of AI being co-opted by extremists, he added.
The UK addressed AI's security threats at its landmark Safety in AI Summit in November. “We need to change the narrative,” said technologist Jeremy Peckham, who spoke at the commission’s launch.
Members of the commission welcomed the UK summit’s commitment to ensuring a “human-centred” approach to the technology, and the creation of the state-backed AI Safety Institute.
But they feared that voices from civil society and minority communities risked being excluded. The commission highlighted that there was “no civil society representation beyond several academic institutes” at the summit, in an October letter to the government.
“AI at present is incredibly technocratic. There are not voices coming in that should be heard. We know that the global south is incredibly underrepresented, and so are many aspects of society,” said Kate Devlin of Humanists UK, a British charity.
Ms Devlin pointed to the impact AI bias could have on jobs, and highlighted “on the ground” issues, including outsourcing to people in developing countries for cheap content moderation, and sustainability around the technology.
“The mining [is done] in countries with abysmal human rights protection,” she said.
Maria Harb, from the NGO Stop the Traffik, highlighted how they used AI to combat online disinformation and save women from human trafficking and illegal organ donations – but pointed to the implications for data protection.
“With these prevention programmes targeting people with social media adverts, there are implications that we must acknowledge, including data privacy concerns,” she said.
Acknowledging this, Saqib Bhatti, a junior minister for Tech and the Digital Economy, stressed that the government would take a “collaborative” approach to AI.
“Our vision of the future must hold our people at its heart and be shaped by the values, the collective values we share,” he said.
“We're not just competing in a race, but we're sharing in a collaborative space,” he added.
Match info
Uefa Nations League Group B:
England v Spain, Saturday, 11.45pm (UAE)
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner: Arjan, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Jap Nazaa, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi.
6pm: Al Ruwais Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 1,200m
Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinal.
6.30pm: Shadwell Gold Cup Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Sanad, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
7pm: Shadwell Farm Stallions Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Canal, Harry Bentley, Satish Seemar.
If you go
The flights
The closest international airport for those travelling from the UAE is Denver, Colorado. British Airways (www.ba.com) flies from the UAE via London from Dh3,700 return, including taxes. From there, transfers can be arranged to the ranch or it’s a seven-hour drive. Alternatively, take an internal flight to the counties of Cody, Casper, or Billings
The stay
Red Reflet offers a series of packages, with prices varying depending on season. All meals and activities are included, with prices starting from US$2,218 (Dh7,150) per person for a minimum stay of three nights, including taxes. For more information, visit red-reflet-ranch.net.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces
- Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
- Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
- Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
- Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
- Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
Company%20profile
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Abramovich London
A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.
A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.
Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.
Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
