Al-Alam - By Zakaria Laaroussi
Amidst the noise, awe, and astonishment of the world at what artificial intelligence has achieved in terms of unprecedented capabilities, changing facts, altering truths, producing and innovating, providing services to some, and harming others, and in the midst of preoccupation with the developments and leaps that these technologies bring, the world has begun to think, and with seriousness and responsibility this time, about the question of the values governing artificial intelligence, if indeed it is governed by values...!
The world has entered a new phase of apprehension about what the near future might hold, in which technological time is accelerating at an unprecedented speed, turning its back on the system of values and ethics, while it draws the features of the "Great Escape" towards a future where everyone will search for the "humanity of man", and will stand in contemplation and reflection on "what man does to man", and the concept of "humanisation" will be proposed with a new approach that refutes the Arkounian view, and resorts to the vertical, spiritual, and virtuous action.
Lights of moral and value-based hope have shone, after a sober intellectual and scientific discussion between thinkers, scientists, experts, and officials, from which the "Madagh Declaration on Artificial Intelligence" emerged, at the nineteenth session of the World Forum for Sufism, at the headquarters of the Qadiriyya Boutchichiyya Tariqa, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, to present a deep philosophical and ethical vision, with a spiritual and virtuous spirit, extending beyond a mere technical framework or guidance statement, but rather an contemplative invitation to rethink the position of man in the age of artificial intelligence, based on ethical principles and values derived from Islamic Sharia, in close connection with universal human values, its rules formulated with intellectual deliberation, deep questioning, and aesthetic spiritual understanding.
This intellectual reflection looks "witnessing" at the most important issues raised by the declaration, and gathers the breaths of "connection" by questioning the nature of the alternatives proposed in the declaration.. then it "exists" intellectually and cognitively in its final lines.. and perhaps it perceives the features of a new paradigm set by the declaration, to extinguish the flame of fear of "post-humanism".
The declaration was linked in its introduction to what the world is witnessing today, of tremendous development in the field of technology and artificial intelligence, which has begun to increasingly affect various aspects of human life, and which opens wide doors to changing the pattern of human behaviour, and its relationship with the digital world, so it was necessary for the declaration to recall the relationship of influence and being influenced between the great opportunities of artificial intelligence, and the new challenges that knock on the door of moral and human responsibility in the use of this technology.
The authors of the declaration felt the great historical responsibility, which requires standing with oneself and thinking about how to benefit from these tools in ways that contribute to achieving good for humanity, while avoiding harming it or exploiting it for illegal purposes, with an Islamic reference, and in line with universal shared values.. and perhaps this Islamic vision opens a wider, broader, and more comprehensive moral horizon, to save the humanity of man.
The declaration considered, among its causes, the fate of humanity, and proposed a sustainable and responsible vision towards the present and the future of coming generations, which are heading towards an unknown fate, if they ignore ethics and values.
The declaration also sensed the challenges of artificial intelligence, which as much as it can be a great force for good and prosperity, poses a danger to the existence of the human species, if used outside the circle of established moral values that protect the humanity of man.
The declaration starts from a basic hypothesis, which is that artificial intelligence is no longer just a technical tool, but has become a force capable of reshaping the relationships between man and his surroundings, and may extend to human existence itself, and this force, if not controlled by moral guidelines, can deviate from its path and lead to serious and deep violations, the results and effects of which cannot be predicted, and here the deep link between technology and ethics appears; the declaration sees that every technical progress must be based on a solid moral foundation, a concept that reflects an understanding and awareness of this development as an integral part of the human experience, which must be used for the benefit of the humanity of man, not against it.
The central idea in this declaration is that artificial intelligence cannot be a neutral force, but is a reflection of the values that stand behind its development, and if development is carried out by recalling noble morals, as stated in the Prophetic Hadith, from which the declaration starts, it will work to promote human values and social justice. By the concept of opposition, if it is left devoid of any moral restraint, it may become a means of manipulating rights and dignity, and perpetuating social disparities.
The declaration addresses a delicate aspect in dealing with artificial intelligence, which is the issue of neutrality and fairness, as it is an issue that raises a set of cognitive and behavioural problems, and therefore, the declaration raises a value-based question about the nature of neutrality in technology: Can artificial intelligence be neutral? This question raises the issue of the social and political effects that can result from the use of intelligent systems.
In reality, the most advanced systems reflect implicit identity, societal, or cultural biases, making them contribute to promoting cultural injustice or civilisational discrimination, and perhaps the logic of anticipating globalisation at the end of the last century, which is very similar to anticipating the future of artificial intelligence, was a catalyst for Huntington to think in terms of the clash of civilisations and identity collision after the Cold War, and therefore cultural equality and civilisational and identity coexistence are factors capable of overcoming the cultural setbacks of globalisation in our anticipation of the future of artificial intelligence.. From this standpoint, the declaration calls for commitment to the principles of fairness, so that intelligent systems are tools for promoting justice and equality, not for perpetuating existing identity disparities.
Another issue addressed by the declaration is transparency and accountability; in an era where reliance on artificial intelligence is increasing to make management decisions that affect the lives of individuals, it becomes necessary for these decisions to be clear, measurable, and accountable. The declaration raises this issue from a moral angle, and sees that the absence of transparency may lead to a loss of trust in technology, which raises deeper concerns related to the future of the relationship between man and machine, and this aspect opens the field for questions about the concept of power in the age of artificial intelligence: Who possesses the power of will when artificial intelligence makes immediate decisions? And how can it be ensured that this power is in the service of man and not at his expense? And who bears the legal or moral responsibility?
The declaration also addresses the issue of privacy, which is one of the most complex issues in the information age, and here the link between ethics and religion appears, where the Quranic verse "And do not spy" is cited to confirm that artificial intelligence must be used in a way that respects the rights of individuals to privacy, and this moral principle reflects a deep religious understanding of the issue of personal freedom, where privacy is considered an integral part of human dignity. In this context, the declaration calls for the development of intelligent systems that protect the data of individuals, so that this data is not used except for legitimate purposes and in a way that serves the public interest.
Inspired by the spiritual vision, the declaration recalls purification (Tazkiya), with all that it entails of purifying the soul and achieving moral perfection, and here the question is raised: How can artificial intelligence contribute to this spiritual endeavour? And is there a relationship of influence and being influenced? The declaration sees that artificial intelligence must be developed and used with a spiritual spirit, so that it becomes a means to achieve good and righteousness, not a tool for harm or corruption, and therefore qualifying the developers of these systems morally and spiritually is capable of answering the great fears we carry in the face of artificial intelligence, and this link between technology and purification reflects a deep philosophy, which sees that technology is not just algorithms and logistics, but is part of a moral path that must be managed with wisdom and responsibility.
The declaration gave great importance to the issue of sustainability as one of the basic principles that must govern the development and use of artificial intelligence. The declaration is based on the concepts of trust (Amana) and stewardship (Istikhlaf) in Islam, which requires the use of this technology in ways that contribute to preserving the environment and achieving sustainability, to achieve a balance between technological progress and preserving the balance of nature, and the existence of the human species.
The declaration does not look at artificial intelligence as a moral challenge, but sees it as an opportunity to enhance cooperation between nations and societies in order to achieve the public good, if it is governed by a value-based and moral regulator; cooperation is one of the basic principles on which the declaration is based, as it sees that artificial intelligence can be a means to enhance international understanding and cooperation, and here we question another issue in this chapter: Can technology be a factor for bringing peoples closer together instead of being a source of division and discrimination? Artificial intelligence, if developed and used in a responsible manner, can contribute to building a better future for humanity.
The Madagh Declaration on Artificial Intelligence presents a unique vision, based on mixing religious, moral, and human values, and makes artificial intelligence not just a purely technical issue, but part of a larger human and moral project, which requires humanity to deal with it with values, ethics, caution, and responsibility, and serious engagement to keep pace with its development, and make spiritual values govern its dynamics.. And if we ignore artificial intelligence and the requirements of the time, which knock on the door of the present with great boldness, then the future will ignore us and we will be lost in the depths of the pit.. And we wait for the car that can take us to the destination of the "unknown" and perhaps to "post-humanism", with its cruelty and coldness...!
The declaration has set a value-based roadmap to frame artificial intelligence, and set a new paradigm framing its software, which is the spiritual qualification of the intelligent human developer of its systems, and making him a vertical, trustworthy, and steward actor.. It may seem like a utopian proposal at first glance, but thinking with deliberation, and extrapolating Sufi experiences, and what the effort of the people of spiritual work has produced throughout the ages, and the intellectual, social, and economic figures, whose perceptions have been changed by purification, is enough to reflect seriously on this proposal, and consider it the most appropriate solution to moral dilemmas.
Purification is not a folkloric act or a hat-wearing affiliation or an organisational connection, it is a psychological effect, behavioural refinement, and a supported understanding and awareness.. It is a spiritual ascension to understand from the Original Manager of all these interactions.. It is the manifestation of "And fear God, and God teaches you".
And the conclusion of the intellectual reflection is left for contemplation in the last paragraph of the declaration, which expresses itself, and builds the true perception of judging it, as the jurists say:
"We pledge to God and we pledge to ourselves to adhere to these moral principles derived from our glorious Sharia and universal values, seeking thereby to use artificial intelligence in the service of the public good, taking into account our responsibility before God and before all of humanity."
