Al-Azhar Grand Imam: Unchecked AI threatens collapse of values and control of humanity by a select few

UN Deputy Secretary-General: Al-Azhar is a partner in shaping ethical governance for artificial intelligence, and we are pleased to launch the UN Artificial Intelligence initiative from Al-Azhar University.

His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb received H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, and her accompanying delegation on Sunday at Al-Azhar headquarters. During the meeting, His Eminence expressed his appreciation for the selection of Al-Azhar as the venue to launch the United Nations Artificial Intelligence Initiative. He emphasized that Al-Azhar—having fulfilled its mission for over 1,080 years as a guardian of religious values and human ethics—is the most suitable institution to lead a global dialogue bridging technology and ethical values.

His Eminence stated: “When we speak of timeless human values, we are, in fact, speaking of the religious values brought forth by divine messages; no scientific advancement can truly benefit humanity if it is severed from these values.” He emphasized that the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence technologies raises genuine concerns regarding their impact on ethical and human values. He noted that over-reliance on these tools has begun to negatively affect critical thinking and creativity; they have become a means to entrench negative behaviors, circumvent ethical standards, and misappropriate the efforts of others. He warned that the absence of an ethical framework governing artificial intelligence could lead the world toward a future where human dignity is diminished and the principles enshrined in divine messages are eroded.

His Eminence added: “I fear that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence—without ethical safeguards—could strip the human mind of its capacity for thought and creativity, transforming the technology into a tool that diminishes rather than elevates humanity, thereby threatening the future of the human race.” He questioned what would become of humanity if this technology were to fall into the hands of a select few who control the destinies of nations, the trajectory of development, and the future of mankind as a whole. He noted that while scientific progress is vital and beneficial to humanity, it must not come at the expense of ethics. He stated: “The question that should preoccupy the world today is not ‘How far will technology and artificial intelligence evolve?’ but rather: ‘Who will govern this evolution? Upon what system of values and ethics will it be grounded? And who will bear responsibility?’ For in the absence of ethics, scientific progress itself becomes a source of danger to humanity.”

At the same time, His Eminence affirmed his confidence that Allah Almighty would not abandon His creation and the world to the subversion of religious and moral values. He expressed his appreciation for the role played by the United Nations—under the leadership of Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres—in upholding international law and justice and confronting injustice. His Eminence also affirmed Al-Azhar’s readiness to join any joint international effort ensuring that artificial intelligence is harnessed to serve humanity rather than dominating it.

H.E. Ms. Amina J. Mohammed expressed her pleasure at meeting the Grand Imam and her appreciation for his role in promoting the values of fraternity, coexistence, and global peace. She conveyed the greetings of the UN Secretary-General and expressed her delight at launching the United Nations initiative on artificial intelligence from Al-Azhar Al-Sharif—a global institution that upholds a rich legacy of values and principles. She noted that the United Nations has recently initiated extensive discussions on AI governance, based on placing humanity, human dignity, and ethical values at the heart of this technology. She added that these dialogues are officially launching today at Al-Azhar before extending to major religious and cultural institutions worldwide.

She commended the Grand Imam’s vision, which emphasizes upholding human dignity in the age of digital technology. She stressed that technology must remain a tool serving humanity rather than a means of control, and that its responsible use should contribute to enhancing the well-being of peoples, achieving justice, and narrowing the gap between nations. She also highly valued the Human Fraternity Document—signed by the Grand Imam and the late Pope Francis in 2019—and affirmed the ongoing cooperation between the United Nations and Al-Azhar. Furthermore, she praised the Grand Imam’s courageous decision to establish faculties of Artificial Intelligence at Al-Azhar University, hailing them as a model that combines scientific advancement with ethical grounding to prepare generations capable of steering technology to serve humanity.