Shanghai - New York: Europe and the Arabs
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, stressed the importance of international cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, and called on governments to work together to build a more sustainable and equitable future for all. This came in a speech he delivered yesterday, Tuesday, at the workshop organized by the Chinese government in Shanghai on artificial intelligence and capacity building. According to what was reported by the United Nations daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received on Wednesday morning,
The Secretary-General said that artificial intelligence represents a historic opportunity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, but it also carries major challenges that require broad international cooperation. He pointed out that we stand at a pivotal moment, as artificial intelligence is developing at a tremendous speed, "changing our world in ways we have not yet begun to understand." He explained that artificial intelligence has the potential to help save the Sustainable Development Goals and open up prospects for a more sustainable and equitable future, as recent research estimates that artificial intelligence can help accelerate the achievement of nearly 80 percent of those goals.
However, the Secretary-General says we face a stark reality: AI opportunities are not equal, with AI capabilities currently concentrated in the hands of a handful of powerful companies – and even fewer countries. At the same time, many countries face significant challenges in accessing AI tools.
The Secretary-General stressed that we need international cooperation – and solidarity – to harness the potential of AI, “and we must, urgently, close the AI ​​gap in developing countries.”
Disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable
The risks posed by AI are also uneven, according to the Secretary-General. Without adequate controls, AI could further exacerbate inequality and digital divides, and disproportionately impact the most vulnerable. The Secretary-General called for seizing this historic opportunity to lay the foundations for inclusive governance of AI – for the benefit of all humanity.
As we build AI capabilities, the Secretary-General says we must also develop shared knowledge and digital public goods. This can be achieved through networks where expertise and AI training data are pooled and made available to all who need them.
The Secretary-General explained that interconnected AI hubs across countries and continents can accelerate progress in AI, enhance data diversity and inclusion, and foster cooperation rather than competition.
Global Digital Charter
Antonio Guterres said that governments are currently negotiating the Global Digital Charter, which will be adopted at the UN Future Summit in New York later this month.
He added that the Charter includes new proposals on AI governance and capacity building, noting that his High-Level Advisory Board on AI will issue its final report this month, with a series of recommendations that include:
First, creating an AI capacity development network that connects AI hubs and provides expertise and training data, especially for developing countries;
Second, creating a global AI fund for the Sustainable Development Goals;
Third, developing a global data framework, so that local AI systems can thrive.
Two resolutions on AI
The United Nations is uniquely positioned to promote digital cooperation and support the global exchange of AI models and talent, according to the Secretary-General, noting that the UN General Assembly has already adopted two resolutions on the issue: the China-led resolution on strengthening international cooperation in building AI capacity; and the United States-led resolution on promoting safe, trustworthy and inclusive AI systems.
The Secretary-General urged participants at the Shanghai workshop to promote collaborative AI, and to engage in partnerships that will flourish beyond this workshop.
As the Summit on the Future approaches, the Secretary-General urged participants to raise their voices in the discussions in New York. “Together, let us develop innovative and inclusive tools for AI governance and collaboration – and build a more sustainable and equitable future for all,” he concluded.