The Dignity Accords

What it is

The Dignity Accords are Bob’s name for a short shared statement that he hopes religious leaders of the world’s traditions and independent scientists will write and sign together: that AI must serve human dignity and never be allowed to harm children; that those who build AI are responsible for what it does; and that the world needs an independent body to keep AI safe. Bob coined the name in July 2026 and set one condition before anything else: it “must be a meeting of equals.”

The first commitment, in his plan, is the protection of children: “a few plain sentences every faith can sign.” Those sentences, and each tradition’s own words, are still to be written. His hope is that they will be written with the people who sign them.

Nothing has yet been agreed. This is the first sentence of a working draft he circulated for comment in October 2026, offered so there would be something to tear apart:

We affirm that every human being is responsible for his or her actions, and that this responsibility does not end when we build a machine to act for us.

…

Working draft for comment, October 2026. No one has yet agreed to it or signed it. The date and venue are not final.

The idea

Bob’s picture of the table is “the great traditions each in their own voice alongside the leading scientists.” What they would affirm together is, in his words, “the principle every faith shares that each person is responsible for their actions (including the people who build these systems).” He has insisted that “East and West would have equal representation, and all religions would be treated as equals.” When he approaches an institution, his own rule is to ask for guidance, not endorsement.

The lineage he cites is Pugwash. In 1955 Bertrand Russell, Albert Einstein and nine other scientists warned the world about nuclear weapons; from 1957, scientists from East and West met quietly, first in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, and their meetings helped prepare the ground for later treaties. Religious leaders were not part of Pugwash. Bob’s addition is to seat the voices of faith alongside the scientists, as a new element. His own role, as he puts it: “My job is merely convener and let the experts figure out how to make it safe.” Insurance, his own trade, is where he believes such promises can be made to hold.

Where it stands

Bob has set 4 February 2027 as the planned date, the eighth anniversary of the Document on Human Fraternity signed in Abu Dhabi in 2019 by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb. The date is a plan, not a commitment, and the venue is not settled. Bob describes the table as “the one I am working to assemble, not one that has yet agreed.”

A few faith leaders, among them a rabbi long active in interfaith dialogue, have given counsel on the drafts. Their names will appear here when they choose. Beyond them, the faith leaders and scientists Bob is inviting are not yet confirmed, and outreach to Muslim, Orthodox and Eastern traditions is at an early stage.

Bob’s part

He calls himself convener and signs his letters that way. Told the Accords would need teeth, he answered: “I agree completely about the teeth, and as a dentist I know a lot about teeth.” His brief for its website was short: “do not leave the children out.” And his reason: “We are doing this for our grandchildren and for yours.”

Mentions of faith leaders, scientists and organizations on this page describe history and conversations. They do not mean that anyone endorses Bob or the Dignity Accords.