ASEZ Holds Forum at the United Nations Office at Geneva

As the world anticipates a transition beyond artificial intelligence (AI) toward an era of artificial general intelligence (AGI) with capabilities comparable to those of humans, discussions are intensifying over the ethical principles and values needed to guide technological development. Against this backdrop, ASEZ, the Church of God University Student Volunteer Group, held a forum on July 9 at the United Nations Office at Geneva in Switzerland under the theme “Mother’s Love in the Age of AI.”

Last year, ASEZ held a forum on the same theme at United Nations Headquarters in New York, U.S., exploring the direction AI technology should take to promote human well-being. This year, a series of major international events related to AI were held in Geneva beginning in early July, including the AI for Good Global Summit, the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, and the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum. Amid these events, ASEZ members from its North American and European chapters continued the discussion by holding a second forum at the United Nations Office at Geneva as an official side event. Organized in close cooperation with the Permanent Mission of The Gambia to the United Nations Office at Geneva, the forum brought together approximately sixty participants, including ASEZ members and representatives from governments, international organizations, academia, industry, and civil society.

The forum was held under the subtitle “Guiding AI with Human Heart — Maternal Values as a Framework for Safe AGI.” In his keynote address, Muhammadou M.O. Kah, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Gambia to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Vice-Chair of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), said, “A mother prepares her child to face the world with courage, integrity, and consideration for others. These values should also be carried forward in the development and use of AI.” He called for a shared commitment to the ethical and inclusive development of AI. Timothy White, an ASEZ member from Harvard University in the United States, said in his presentation, “As the commercialization of AGI draws closer, ethical standards become increasingly important.” He presented “a mother’s love,” a universal human value, as a foundation for AI design and the advancement of human rights in the digital age.

During the panel discussion, the role of education in promoting human-centered values in the age of AI emerged as a key topic. Leading AI experts agreed, saying, “Because the future of AI depends on the values humans teach it, education that fosters empathy, responsibility, respect, and thoughtful reflection must come first.”

The forum was especially significant in that it examined the future direction of AI not merely as a matter of technological competition, but from the perspectives of human dignity, ethics, and education. Smrite Goudhaman, a faculty member at Golden Gate University in the United States, said, “I was impressed by the way AI and love were discussed side by side.” She added, “Rather than simply accepting a single answer provided by AI, it is important to think independently and make our own choices based on the humanity symbolized by ‘a mother’s love.’” Dr. Teddy Nalubega, an AI futurist, said, “The future of AI is being shaped not only by technology experts, but also by voices from diverse fields, including university students.” She encouraged greater interest and participation from future generations.

ASEZ plans to continue exploring a wide range of issues concerning the future of society, including the beneficial use of AI and human rights in the digital age, while advancing youth-led international cooperation and action.

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