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AI must serve the many, not the few
“It challenges us to ask whose voices are shaping AI, whose realities are being represented and who is being left behind.” Rev. Jackline Makena
AI must serve the many, not the few: Rev. Jackline Makena, Vice Moderator of the WCC Commission on Faith and Order and lecturer at St. Paul's University, argues that AI is not merely a technological challenge but a profound moral and justice issue. Her central concern is that AI, if left ungoverned, will deepen existing inequalities — particularly across the Global South, where systems marked by economic disparity and political exclusion are already vulnerable to biased algorithms, surveillance, and data exploitation. The spread of AI-amplified disinformation further threatens democracy and human dignity. She calls for a four-part, justice-centred response: ethical and inclusive governance frameworks rooted in human rights; meaningful inclusion of voices from the Global South, women, youth, and marginalised communities in shaping digital policy; investment in digital literacy so communities can critically engage with AI; and robust accountability mechanisms for both governments and tech companies. Faith communities, civil society, and ecumenical bodies like the WCC have a specific role in amplifying marginalised voices and fostering ethical reflection. She calls for “a digital future that is not only innovative but also inclusive, accountable, and deeply human.”
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