Cairo: Al Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb has warned that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies raises serious concerns about their impact on moral and human values. He added that excessive reliance on AI tools is already undermining critical thinking and creativity, while also facilitating unethical practices such as reinforcing harmful behaviors, circumventing ethical standards, and appropriating the work of others.
According to State Information Service Egypt, during a meeting at Al Azhar headquarters with United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and her accompanying delegation, Tayeb cautioned that the absence of a robust ethical framework governing AI could lead to a future in which human dignity is diminished and the principles upheld by divine religions are steadily eroded. He welcomed Al Azhar's selection as the launch venue for the United Nations' Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development Initiative, emphasizing that for more than 1,080 years Al Azhar has served as a guardian of religious and ethical values, making it the appropriate institution to lead a global dialogue linking technological advancement with moral responsibility.
"When we speak of enduring human values, we are in fact speaking of the religious values conveyed through the divine messages. No scientific progress can truly benefit humanity if it is detached from these values," Tayeb said. "I fear that the unchecked expansion of artificial intelligence, if pursued without ethical safeguards, will empty the human mind of its capacity for thought and creativity, turning AI into a tool that weakens humanity rather than elevates it. Without ethics, scientific progress itself becomes a source of danger to humanity." At the same time, Al-Tayeb expressed confidence that Allah would not abandon humanity to the erosion of religious and moral values.
He praised the United Nations, under Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres, for its efforts to uphold international law, justice, and the fight against oppression. He also affirmed Al-Azhar's readiness to participate in any international initiative that ensures AI is developed and deployed to serve humanity rather than dominate it.
For her part, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed expressed appreciation for meeting the Grand Imam and commended his leadership in promoting fraternity, peaceful coexistence, and global peace. She conveyed the greetings of Guterres and welcomed the launch of the United Nations' AI initiative from Al Azhar, describing the institution as a global symbol of enduring values and principles. She noted that the United Nations has spent recent years holding extensive discussions on AI governance, placing human dignity and ethical values at the center of technological development. She praised the Grand Imam's vision emphasizing the need to safeguard human dignity in the digital age, stressing that technology must remain a tool that serves people rather than controls them. She said that responsible AI should contribute to improving people's well-being, advancing justice, and narrowing global inequalities.