Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Belief: A Discussion with Michael Young

AI Webinar Series: AI and Faith

This episode is a recording of our AI Webinar Series kick-off webinar held on June 18, 2026. Please find the webinar details below. Moderator: Audrey Kitagawa (President/Founder, International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation) Speakers: Will Jones (Associate of Futures Program, Future of Life Institute) Dr. DZ Kalman (Fellow at Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Harvard University) Chris Scammell (Co-Founder, Buddhism & AI Initiative) AI and faith meet at the point where technology forces humanity to reconsider dignity, purpose, and moral responsibility. Many religious traditions see AI as a positive tool for society to use, while also raising concerns about justice, identity, and the limits of machine reasoning. Across these traditions, leaders emphasize that AI must remain grounded in human moral agency, empathy, and spiritual insight. Overall, the dialogue between AI and faith is not about resisting technology but about shaping it. Religious voices seek to ensure that AI serves humanity ethically, preserves what is sacred about human life, and supports a future rooted in wisdom, compassion, and moral responsibility.

Prof. Husna Ahmad OBE on the Power of Religion in Sustainable Development

Prof. Husna Ahmad OBE is the CEO of Global One 2015 [https://globalone.org.uk/] and a member of the IF20 Advisory Board. Her efforts leading women and faith-based organizations to promote sustainable development have made massive impact on a global scale. In this episode, Prof. Ahmad shares the type of effect that religious individuals and organizations can have on the progress of the sustainable development goals. She also shares insights on the consequences of the rapid development of AI, and gives a peek into IF20's efforts to prepare for the UK's G20 presidency in 2027.

Freedom of Religion or Belief in a Brazilian Context with Prof. Rodrigo Alves

IF20's Executive Director Whitney Clayton sits down with Professor Rodrigo Vitorino Souza Alves, who leads the The Brazilian Center of Studies in Law and Religion and is a professor at the Federal University of Uberlandia. Professor Alves also led the local organizing team for the 2024 IF20 Annual Forum in Brasilia, Brazil. In this interview, Professor Alves highlights the history and current status of freedom of religion or belief in Brazil. The insights that he shares provide helpful context for understanding the dynamics of freedom of religion or belief across the globe.

John C. Havens on Sustainability in an Innovating World

John C. Havens is the Global Director for Planet Positive 2030 at The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association [https://standards.ieee.org/] (IEEE SA). As an author of multiple books on sustainable technology development and an expert on the intersection of faith, environmental protection, and AI, John shares with us a unique perspective on what's needed to change the direction of tech development in an innovative - yet fragile - world.

Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Belief: A Discussion with Michael Young

Michael Young served on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and is the former president of three major universities. He contributes to the G20 Interfaith Forum by serving on the IF20 Advisory Council. In this interview, co-hosted by Stuart and IF20's executive director Whitney Clayton, Michael shares what he has learned from a life dedicated to human rights, religious freedom, and leadership.