3 days ago
Bahrain's Voice for Ethical AI Rings Loud in Romania
The King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance took part in the 32nd General Assembly of the International Association of Orthodox Parliaments (IAO), held in Romania's capital, Bucharest, from June 2 to 6. The gathering focused on the vital theme: 'Collaboration between Parliaments and Religious Institutions in Shaping Guidelines for Artificial Intelligence Use – The Significance of the Marrakesh Declaration by the Inter-Parliamentary Union.' The event attracted prominent parliamentary and religious figures alongside representatives from various international organizations.
During the plenary session, Ms. Noura Abdullah Al Mansouri, Director of Coexistence at the King Hamad Global Centre, highlighted the Kingdom of Bahrain's steadfast commitment to fostering international cooperation and partnerships among parliamentary, executive, and religious institutions. She emphasized Bahrain's proactive role in crafting just digital policies and establishing ethical frameworks to harness modern technologies and AI applications—aimed at building a world grounded in fairness, tolerance, democracy, and peaceful coexistence amid growing global challenges and risks.
Ms. Al Mansouri also showcased the Centre's pioneering use of AI-powered educational tools within the 'Science Schools for Peace' initiative, launched in the sister Kingdom of Jordan. This project is a collaborative effort with the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the International Centre for Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME). Two innovative AI-driven programs, 'Smart Assistant 1' and 'Smart Participant 1,' were presented as cutting-edge solutions to support legislative and executive institutions in task management, data analysis, reporting, and decision-making.
Reaffirming the Centre's dedication, Ms. Al Mansouri stressed its mission to promote intercultural dialogue and fortify the ethical infrastructure of digital policies that champion peace. She underscored the importance of safeguarding against AI misuse, including privacy violations and the spread of hate and intolerance. These efforts draw inspiration from the visionary guidance of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the call of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who advocates for an international treaty to govern the responsible and ethical development of artificial intelligence—building trust, transparency, and shared human values worldwide.
