The secretary general of the Muslim World League, Mohammed Al Issa, has called for a unified ethical framework to govern artificial intelligence, warning of risks linked to unregulated systems.
He made the remarks during the opening of an international conference in Morocco titled “The Future of Human Civilization in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, attended by more than 2,000 participants.
The event, hosted by the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fez, brought together officials, including the UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, along with academics, experts and thinkers from 75 countries.
In his keynote address, Al Issa said the conference theme is central to understanding how human civilisation continues to evolve. He traced developments from the knowledge revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries, when scientific thought expanded beyond traditional limits, to the current phase driven by artificial intelligence.
He said modern AI systems have moved beyond storing data to analysing information and generating ideas. He also noted that the foundations of the experimental scientific method were established centuries earlier by Muslim scholars, describing the current technological shift as another turning point.
Al Issa said advances in artificial intelligence must be guided by shared human values to ensure they are used responsibly. He warned that misuse in areas such as religion, race and culture could lead to division and conflict.
He called for clear ethical standards to be set before further development of AI systems, alongside greater transparency and stronger accountability for companies operating in the sector. He also urged limits on the use of AI in high-risk areas, particularly those involving critical decisions, saying final authority should remain with humans.
Al Issa said artificial intelligence systems are shaped entirely by the data they receive and do not possess awareness or independent judgement. He added that such systems cannot be treated as autonomous entities.
He concluded by saying technology reflects the choices and values defined by those who develop it.