World Economic Forum did not propose using artificial intelligence to write Bible
- This article is more than one year old.
- Published on June 30, 2023 at 20:18
- 3 min read
- By Paula CABESCU, AFP Romania, AFP USA
- Translation and adaptation Natalie WADE
Copyright © AFP 2017-2025. Any commercial use of this content requires a subscription. Click here to find out more.
"A top official with the World Economic Forum (WEF) has called for religious scripture to be rewritten by artificial intelligence (AI) to create a globalized 'new Bible,'" says a June 13, 2023 Instagram post.
The claim originated from a Slay News article published on June 10 headlined: "WEF Calls for AI to Rewrite Bible, Create 'Religions That Are Actually Correct.'"
Similar claims can be found online on platforms including Facebook, Twitter and TikTok and in other online articles.
The WEF, an international organization that lobbies politicians, businesses and cultural groups, is a frequent target of misinformation.
This recent claim is similarly false, as posts misrepresent remarks made by Israeli historian and author Yuval Noah Harari and incorrectly label him an official at the WEF.
"The World Economic Forum never called for AI to rewrite the Bible and never made any statements about banning the Bible or calling for a new world religion," WEF spokesperson Yann Zopf told AFP on June 28, 2023. "These are false claims to discredit the important work that the World Economic Forum does on serious global challenges."
AFP searched the WEF's websites and reputable media outlets and found no evidence the organization made any such comments regarding AI and the Bible.
WEF 'top official'
Harari, who is described as a "top official" in many of these posts, has never held a leadership role at the WEF. While he has participated in WEF events (archived here and here), he has no other ties to the organization.
"Please note that Mr Harari is neither an employee nor an adviser of the World Economic Forum," Zopf said.
AFP found no mention of Harari on the WEF's leadership page (archived here), which lists its chairman, board and executive committee members.
His profile on the WEF website (archived here), introduces him as a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in the History Department and the author of several books.
Misinterpreted quotes
In addition to not representing the WEF, the remarks made by Harari have been misconstrued.
Indeed, he discussed the subject of AI's potential to "make decisions" and "generate new ideas" in a May 19, 2023 interview, in Lisbon with Pedro Pinto, a Portuguese-American journalist. However, he did not propose for AI to write a new bible, instead, he used this example to demonstrate the technology's capabilities.
Here is what Harari said in the interview according to the full-length video (archived here):
"AI can create new ideas. Can even write a new Bible."
"You know, throughout history religions dreamt about having a book written by a superhuman intelligence, by a non-human entity. Or every religion claims 'our book, all the other books of the other religions, humans wrote them. But our book - no, no, no, no, no - it came from superhuman intelligence."
"In a few years, there might be religions that are actually correct. Just think about a religion whose Holy Book is written by an AI. That could be a reality in a few years."
AFP attempted to contact Harari for comment but a response was not forthcoming.
AFP has previously debunked other false and misleading claims about the WEF here, here, here and here.
Is there content that you would like AFP to fact-check? Get in touch.
Contact us
