Haridwar, Sept. 17 -- Haridwar might seem far removed from the centres of global power. Yet, saints, researchers, policymakers and technologists gathered here on Tuesday for the "Faith & Future - Integrating AI with Spirituality" conference.

"AI is concentrating power in a tiny handful of people - three or four companies basically," William Jones of the Future of Life Institute (FLI) told HT. "It's unfair that opportunities are being controlled and pushed in that direction. We need to think more carefully about involving more people in this discussion." Jones warned that this is exactly what is happening, leaving the rest of the world without a real say.

The conference, which discussed at length the boons and banes of AI and how to demo...