Interfaith Alliance launches global Faith-AI Covenant talks in New York

By AI, Created 11:05 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – The Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities convened the first Faith–AI Covenant roundtable in New York on April 30, bringing together AI leaders, faith institutions and civil society voices. The initiative will expand to six more cities in 2026, with a concluding summit planned for Abu Dhabi.

Why it matters: - The Faith–AI Covenant is designed to put moral and spiritual perspectives into AI governance discussions. - Organizers want AI systems developed and deployed with more attention to human dignity, transparency, safety and the common good. - The roundtable series is meant to shape how builders and institutions think about responsibility as AI becomes more embedded in daily life.

What happened: - The Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities convened the first Faith–AI Covenant roundtable in New York on April 30, in partnership with Precognition CEO Baroness Joanna Shields. - The convening brought together senior leaders from AI, faith communities, civil society and academia. - The discussion was held behind closed doors. - Participants included representatives from OpenAI, Anthropic, the Baha’i International Community, The Sikh Coalition, the Archdiocese of Newark, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the New York Board of Rabbis, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Masjid Muhammad, the Hindu Temple Society of North America, Won Buddhism of Manhattan, the World Council of Churches, the United Church of Christ, Vanguard University, the Civilisation Research Institute, ROOST, the Buddhism and AI Initiative and the Center for Humane Technology.

The details: - The Faith–AI Covenant is a global initiative of the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities, delivered in partnership with Precognition. - The initiative aims to create structured dialogue between people building advanced technologies and faith leaders with longstanding moral and civic roles. - Organizers said the New York session focused on co-creating ethical frameworks for responsible and transparent AI. - The discussion also looked at AI’s impact on human life, the shared responsibilities of builders and institutions, and the principles needed for a values-led approach to technological progress. - Insights from the New York roundtable are expected to inform the next stages of the series. - The initiative will continue in 2026 with convenings in Beijing, Bengaluru, Nairobi, Paris and Singapore, before a final meeting in Abu Dhabi. - The concluding summit in Abu Dhabi is intended to gather the outcomes of the wider dialogue process and support the next phase of the initiative.

Between the lines: - The effort reflects a push to treat AI not only as a technical issue, but also as a human, ethical and civic one. - Baroness Joanna Shields chairs the initiative’s Advisory Steering Group, which is meant to keep the conversation practical and focused on safety, trust and implementation. - Dana Humaid, chief executive of the IAFSC, said the New York meeting showed the value of bringing technology and faith perspectives together early and with shared responsibility. - Rabbi Diana S. Gerson of the New York Board of Rabbis said the covenant can help ensure innovation serves human dignity and supports peace, understanding and more cohesive societies. - The IAFSC says its broader mission is to help faith leaders work on community safety issues including child sexual abuse, extremism, radicalization and human trafficking.

What’s next: - The Faith–AI Covenant will hold additional roundtables across six continents through 2026. - Organizers expect each meeting to shape the broader direction of the initiative. - The process will culminate in Abu Dhabi, where participants will review the findings and consider next steps. - The initiative aims to keep expanding dialogue between AI developers, faith leaders and other stakeholders on how emerging technology should be guided.