WCC News: Conference on artificial intelligence inspires and challenges churches’ use of emerging technologies

The annual gathering of the European Christian Internet Conference (ECIC) focusing on the use of artificial intelligence and other new technologies took place on 9-11 September in Bossey and Geneva, Switzerland. The annual gathering of the European Christian Internet Conference takes place on 9-11 September 2024 in Bossey and Geneva, Switzerland, focusing on the topic “What is truth? - Ethical and practical issues in the use of Artificial Intelligence.” Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 16 September 2024 Exploring the theme “What is truth? - Ethical and practical issues in the use of Artificial Intelligence,” the conference gathered around 30 communicators and media professionals from churches and church-related organizations in Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Poland, Greece, France, and the United Kingdom. Hosted by the World Council of Churches, the conference took place at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, enabling its participants to hear from ecumenical and international organizations in Geneva. During the three days of the meeting, participants learned about various aspects of AI from keynote speakers as well as from each other, sharing their work and networking. Dr George Zarkadakis, author and global thought leader on the impact of AI on society, in his keynote “Gods, Robots, and Theory of Mind” explored how AI is unlike anything else humans have made so far. He traced human quest for machines that think from its prehistoric origins to the modern era and argued that is deeper and more profound than mere utilitarianism. “AI is a technology that can remould our species into a meta-species that transcends physical boundaries,” said Zarkadakis. “In essence, this means humans acquiring god-like features and abilities.” Prof. Dr Holger Sievert, professor for Media Management at the Cologne Campus, spoke on the theme "Artificial intelligence as a (non-)topic of two large European churches,” presenting empirical findings from a survey of almost 1,500 church employees as well as his observations and recommendations. “Digitalisation of the church is a prerequisite of AI usage in the church,” said Sievert, noting that churches are behind business companies in technology use for 10-15 years. Christine Ulrich, journalist and media ethicist, spoke on the search for truth in journalism in the face of political and technical challenges. As the present is politically and technologically challenging, journalism has always tried to understand and convey reality. “But how can it still report truthfully when everything can be fake, when everything can be misused politically?” asked Ulrich, noting that professional and quality journalism always seeks the truth, distinguishing it from propaganda. During the annual gathering of the European Christian Internet Conference in Bossey on 9-11 September 2024, participants visited CERN Science Gateway in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC Hovig Etyemezian, head of Innovation Service at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), shared ways in which artificial intelligence and innovation is helping the work of UNHCR with refugees worldwide, including predicting of population movements. “This work has started in 2016,” Etyemezian explained. “AI at that time is not the same as AI now. We can use AI to alert populations to natural disasters.” The Innovation Service, in place at the UN Refugee Agency since 2012, currently sees three main uses of artificial intelligence: better preparation for emergencies, better understanding of refugees’ needs, and providing improved services to refugees. Etyemezian shared examples of UNHCR projects in each of these categories. Dr Erin Green, communicator and AI specialist with expertise in the nonprofit and academic sectors, provided a practical session on Generative Pre-trained Transformers. Participants of the meeting explored how to leverage custom AI to amplify their advocacy efforts and keep their outreach in pace with digital advancements. During the meeting participants also visited CERN, a European research center for particle physics and one of the world’s leading scientific research laboratories. At the CERN Science Gateway, a highlight for many was seeing the world’s first web server, leading to the invention of the world wide web at CERN in 1989.  Guided by Rev. Prof. Dr Odair Pedroso Mateus, former deputy general secretary of WCC, the group also visited significant landmarks in Geneva related to the city’s role in the Reformation and the ecumenical movement. The European Christian Internet Conference (ECIC), established over 20 years ago, brings together a diverse array of digital professionals—from online pastors, digital strategists, and content creators, to web and social media managers and beyond. They represent a broad spectrum of churches and Christian organizations, reflecting the many expressions of Christianity across the continent. Using AI for good: UN Refugee Agency shares innovative practices (WCC News release, 12 September 2024) Conference on artificial intelligence opens with profound question: “What is truth?” (WCC news release, 10 September 2024) Photos from the ECIC 2024 in Bossey More on the European Christian Internet Conference During the annual gathering of the European Christian Internet Conference in Bossey on 9-11 September 2024, participants visited Geneva Old Town and St Pierre cathedral, learning about the role of Geneva in Reformation and Ecumenical movement. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland