Against the backdrop of rapidly advancing technologies and ongoing intergovernmental negotiations on AI governance, UNIDIR is organizing an inter-faith dialogue to address pressing ethical considerations relating to the lifecycle of AI in the military domain.
As AI capabilities accelerate and are increasingly integrated across the security lifecycle, the international community faces an urgent need to ensure that governance approaches remain anchored in human dignity, international law and responsible practice. Faith-based ethics and moral traditions have long played an important role in the formulation of multilateral norms. An inter-faith exchange at this critical juncture of global security can elevate discussions to a potentially unifying narrative that transcends borders, reinforces trust, responsibility and restraint in the development, deployment and use of AI in high stakes security environments.
In the lead up to UNIDIR’s Global Conference on AI, Security and Ethics 2026, this dialogue seeks to explore pathways to developing shared values and norms across faiths that can inform and support ongoing multilateral discussions on governance of AI in the military domain. It aims to lift the debate around AI, security and ethics beyond state-focused, technical discussions and to strengthen inclusive, multistakeholder engagement in these timely debates.
Agenda
14:00 – 14:15 | Welcome and opening remarks
- Robin Geiss, Director, UNIDIR
14:00 – 14:15 | Inter-faith panel discussion
- Father Paolo Benanti, Third Order Regular Franciscan; Associate Professor, LUISS University; Vatican Consultant on AI
- Leon Saltiel, Director of Diplomacy, UN Geneva and UNESCO, World Jewish Congress
- Mohamed Levrak, President, Interreligious Platform of Geneva; Deputy Director, Islamic Cultural Foundation of Geneva
Moderated by Yasmin Afina, Researcher, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR
When and where
Friday, 12 June 2026 | 14:00 – 15:30 CEST | In person (Geneva*).
Check your local time here.
*Location details will be communicated in due course.
Participants
The event is open to representatives of States, international organizations, religious groups and civil society, as well as experts working on AI in the military domain and members of the general public.
RSVP
For in-person participation, please register here.