UN Experts Call for Global Governance Framework on Artificial Intelligence

UN experts urge United Nations to lay foundations for global governance of artificial intelligence

The advisory body outlined principles that should guide formation of new institutions to govern AI including international law, and especially human rights law. It calls on all governments and parties involved in AI to work together to protect human rights.A high-powered U.N. advisory body said Thursday that global governance of artificial intelligence is "imperative" and urged the United Nations to lay the foundations for the first inclusive global institutions to regulate the fast-growing technology. In a 100-page report, the group said AI "is transforming our world," offering tremendous potential for good from opening new areas of science and accelerating economic growth to improving public health, agriculture and optimizing energy grids. But left ungoverned, it said, AI's benefits could be limited to a handful of countries, companies and individuals, while even more powerful systems than exist today "could upend the world of work," create autonomous weapons, and pose risks to peace and security. The advisory body outlined principles that should guide formation of new institutions to govern AI including international law, and especially human rights law. It calls on all governments and parties involved in AI to work together to protect human rights. The group made wide-ranging recommendations including establishing an international scientific panel on AI to create a global understanding of its capabilities and risks, and a global dialogue on AI governance at the U.N. to anchor future institutions on human rights principles and international law. The recommendations also call for a global AI fund to ensure that the technology bridges the divide between rich and poor nations and promotes achievement of U.N. development goals for 2030, and a "Standards Exchange" to foster technical compatibility. At present, the report said, only seven of the 193 U.N. member nations are party to seven recent prominent AI governance initiatives while 118 countries, primarily in the global South, "are missing entirely" from any conversation. Among the initiatives are the European Union's first-ever legal framework to regulate AI, which entered into force on Aug. 1. This month,. the Group of 20 leading world economies agreed to establish guidelines for developing artificial intelligence, calling for "ethical, transparent, and accountable use of AI," with human oversight and compliance with privacy and human rights laws. And lawmakers in California - home to many of the world's biggest AI companies - recently adopted legislation to regulate AI which is before the governor. The advisory board's report concluded on a positive but cautious note. "As experts, we remain optimistic about the future of AI and its potential for good," the report said. "That optimism depends, however, on realism about the risks and the inadequacy of structures and incentives currently in place." The board stressed that "The technology is too important, and the stakes are too high, to rely only on market forces and a fragmented patchwork of national and multilateral action." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed the advisory body last October, saying coordinated action is needed to keep the threat of artificial intelligence from becoming an uncontrolled "monster." The group comprises 39 prominent AI leaders from 33 countries - chosen from over 2,000 nominations. They represent all regions of the world, are serving in their personal capacity, and include experts from government, the private sector and civil society. Guterres commended the group's work Thursday, expressing full support for its recommendations "which provide a blueprint to build on existing efforts and together, shape an international AI architecture that is inclusive, agile and effective - for today and the future." When the secretary-general told reporters last year that he planned to appoint the advisory body, Guterres said he would react favorably to a new U.N. agency on artificial intelligence and suggested as a model the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is knowledge-based and has some regulatory powers. But the advisory body said it wasn't recommending establishment of an agency. Amandeep Singh Gill, the secretary-general's chief's envoy on technology and a member of the advisory body, told a news conference launching the report that for now an agency isn't needed, "but it's not saying that we would never need something like that." The board wants that possibility to be studied, he said. The report was issued ahead of the Summit of the Future starting Sunday which Guterres has called to try to unite the world's divided nations and address the challenges and threats confronting humanity from conflicts and climate change to artificial intelligence and reforming the U.N.

UN experts urge United Nations to lay foundations for global governance of artificial intelligence

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- A high-powered U.N. advisory body said Thursday that global governance of artificial intelligence is "imperative" and urged the United Nations to lay the foundations for the first inclusive global institutions to regulate the fast-growing technology. In a 100-page report, the group said AI "is transforming our world," offering tremendous potential for good from opening new areas of science and accelerating economic growth to improving public health, agriculture and optimizing energy grids. But left ungoverned, it said, AI's benefits could be limited to a handful of countries, companies and individuals, while even more powerful systems than exist today "could upend the world of work," create autonomous weapons, and pose risks to peace and security. The advisory body outlined principles that should guide formation of new institutions to govern AI including international law, and especially human rights law. It calls on all governments and parties involved in AI to work together to protect human rights. The group made wide-ranging recommendations including establishing an international scientific panel on AI to create a global understanding of its capabilities and risks, and a global dialogue on AI governance at the U.N. to anchor future institutions on human rights principles and international law. The recommendations also call for a global AI fund to ensure that the technology bridges the divide between rich and poor nations and promotes achievement of U.N. development goals for 2030, and a "Standards Exchange" to foster technical compatibility. At present, the report said, only seven of the 193 U.N. member nations are party to seven recent prominent AI governance initiatives while 118 countries, primarily in the global South, "are missing entirely" from any conversation. Among the initiatives are the European Union's first-ever legal framework to regulate AI, which entered into force on Aug. 1. This month,. the Group of 20 leading world economies agreed to establish guidelines for developing artificial intelligence, calling for "ethical, transparent, and accountable use of AI," with human oversight and compliance with privacy and human rights laws. And lawmakers in California -- home to many of the world's biggest AI companies -- recently adopted legislation to regulate AI which is before the governor. The advisory board's report concluded on a positive but cautious note. "As experts, we remain optimistic about the future of AI and its potential for good," the report said. "That optimism depends, however, on realism about the risks and the inadequacy of structures and incentives currently in place." The board stressed that "The technology is too important, and the stakes are too high, to rely only on market forces and a fragmented patchwork of national and multilateral action." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed the advisory body last October, saying coordinated action is needed to keep the threat of artificial intelligence from becoming an uncontrolled "monster." The group comprises 39 prominent AI leaders from 33 countries -- chosen from over 2,000 nominations. They represent all regions of the world, are serving in their personal capacity, and include experts from government, the private sector and civil society. Guterres commended the group's work Thursday, expressing full support for its recommendations "which provide a blueprint to build on existing efforts and together, shape an international AI architecture that is inclusive, agile and effective - for today and the future." When the secretary-general told reporters last year that he planned to appoint the advisory body, Guterres said he would react favorably to a new U.N. agency on artificial intelligence and suggested as a model the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is knowledge-based and has some regulatory powers. But the advisory body said it wasn't recommending establishment of an agency. Amandeep Singh Gill, the secretary-general's chief's envoy on technology and a member of the advisory body, told a news conference launching the report that for now an agency isn't needed, "but it's not saying that we would never need something like that." The board wants that possibility to be studied, he said. The report was issued ahead of the Summit of the Future starting Sunday which Guterres has called to try to unite the world's divided nations and address the challenges and threats confronting humanity from conflicts and climate change to artificial intelligence and reforming the U.N.

UN experts urge United Nations to lay foundations for global governance of artificial intelligence

UNITED NATIONS -- A high-powered U.N. advisory body said Thursday that global governance of artificial intelligence is "imperative" and urged the United Nations to lay the foundations for the first inclusive global institutions to regulate the fast-growing technology. In a 100-page report, the group said AI "is transforming our world," offering tremendous potential for good from opening new areas of science and accelerating economic growth to improving public health, agriculture and optimizing energy grids. But left ungoverned, it said, AI's benefits could be limited to a handful of countries, companies and individuals, while even more powerful systems than exist today "could upend the world of work," create autonomous weapons, and pose risks to peace and security. The advisory body outlined principles that should guide formation of new institutions to govern AI including international law, and especially human rights law. It calls on all governments and parties involved in AI to work together to protect human rights. The group made wide-ranging recommendations including establishing an international scientific panel on AI to create a global understanding of its capabilities and risks, and a global dialogue on AI governance at the U.N. to anchor future institutions on human rights principles and international law. The recommendations also call for a global AI fund to ensure that the technology bridges the divide between rich and poor nations and promotes achievement of U.N. development goals for 2030, and a "Standards Exchange" to foster technical compatibility. At present, the report said, only seven of the 193 U.N. member nations are party to seven recent prominent AI governance initiatives while 118 countries, primarily in the global South, "are missing entirely" from any conversation. Among the initiatives are the European Union's first-ever legal framework to regulate AI, which entered into force on Aug. 1. This month,. the Group of 20 leading world economies agreed to establish guidelines for developing artificial intelligence, calling for "ethical, transparent, and accountable use of AI," with human oversight and compliance with privacy and human rights laws. And lawmakers in California -- home to many of the world's biggest AI companies -- recently adopted legislation to regulate AI which is before the governor. The advisory board's report concluded on a positive but cautious note. "As experts, we remain optimistic about the future of AI and its potential for good," the report said. "That optimism depends, however, on realism about the risks and the inadequacy of structures and incentives currently in place." The board stressed that "The technology is too important, and the stakes are too high, to rely only on market forces and a fragmented patchwork of national and multilateral action." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed the advisory body last October, saying coordinated action is needed to keep the threat of artificial intelligence from becoming an uncontrolled "monster." The group comprises 39 prominent AI leaders from 33 countries -- chosen from over 2,000 nominations. They represent all regions of the world, are serving in their personal capacity, and include experts from government, the private sector and civil society. Guterres commended the group's work Thursday, expressing full support for its recommendations "which provide a blueprint to build on existing efforts and together, shape an international AI architecture that is inclusive, agile and effective - for today and the future." When the secretary-general told reporters last year that he planned to appoint the advisory body, Guterres said he would react favorably to a new U.N. agency on artificial intelligence and suggested as a model the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is knowledge-based and has some regulatory powers. But the advisory body said it wasn't recommending establishment of an agency. Amandeep Singh Gill, the secretary-general's chief's envoy on technology and a member of the advisory body, told a news conference launching the report that for now an agency isn't needed, "but it's not saying that we would never need something like that." The board wants that possibility to be studied, he said. The report was issued ahead of the Summit of the Future starting Sunday which Guterres has called to try to unite the world's divided nations and address the challenges and threats confronting humanity from conflicts and climate change to artificial intelligence and reforming the U.N.

UN Experts Urge United Nations to Lay Foundations for Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- A high-powered U.N. advisory body said Thursday that global governance of artificial intelligence is "imperative" and urged the United Nations to lay the foundations for the first inclusive global institutions to regulate the fast-growing technology. In a 100-page report, the group said AI "is transforming our world," offering tremendous potential for good from opening new areas of science and accelerating economic growth to improving public health, agriculture and optimizing energy grids. But left ungoverned, it said, AI's benefits could be limited to a handful of countries, companies and individuals, while even more powerful systems than exist today "could upend the world of work," create autonomous weapons, and pose risks to peace and security. The advisory body outlined principles that should guide formation of new institutions to govern AI including international law, and especially human rights law. It calls on all governments and parties involved in AI to work together to protect human rights. The group made wide-ranging recommendations including establishing an international scientific panel on AI to create a global understanding of its capabilities and risks, and a global dialogue on AI governance at the U.N. to anchor future institutions on human rights principles and international law. The recommendations also call for a global AI fund to ensure that the technology bridges the divide between rich and poor nations and promotes achievement of U.N. development goals for 2030, and a "Standards Exchange" to foster technical compatibility. At present, the report said, only seven of the 193 U.N. member nations are party to seven recent prominent AI governance initiatives while 118 countries, primarily in the global South, "are missing entirely" from any conversation. Among the initiatives are the European Union's first-ever legal framework to regulate AI, which entered into force on Aug. 1. This month,. the Group of 20 leading world economies agreed to establish guidelines for developing artificial intelligence, calling for "ethical, transparent, and accountable use of AI," with human oversight and compliance with privacy and human rights laws. And lawmakers in California -- home to many of the world's biggest AI companies -- recently adopted legislation to regulate AI which is before the governor. The advisory board's report concluded on a positive but cautious note. "As experts, we remain optimistic about the future of AI and its potential for good," the report said. "That optimism depends, however, on realism about the risks and the inadequacy of structures and incentives currently in place." The board stressed that "The technology is too important, and the stakes are too high, to rely only on market forces and a fragmented patchwork of national and multilateral action." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed the advisory body last October, saying coordinated action is needed to keep the threat of artificial intelligence from becoming an uncontrolled "monster." The group comprises 39 prominent AI leaders from 33 countries -- chosen from over 2,000 nominations. They represent all regions of the world, are serving in their personal capacity, and include experts from government, the private sector and civil society. Guterres commended the group's work Thursday, expressing full support for its recommendations "which provide a blueprint to build on existing efforts and together, shape an international AI architecture that is inclusive, agile and effective - for today and the future." When the secretary-general told reporters last year that he planned to appoint the advisory body, Guterres said he would react favorably to a new U.N. agency on artificial intelligence and suggested as a model the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is knowledge-based and has some regulatory powers. But the advisory body said it wasn't recommending establishment of an agency. Amandeep Singh Gill, the secretary-general's chief's envoy on technology and a member of the advisory body, told a news conference launching the report that for now an agency isn't needed, "but it's not saying that we would never need something like that." The board wants that possibility to be studied, he said. The report was issued ahead of the Summit of the Future starting Sunday which Guterres has called to try to unite the world's divided nations and address the challenges and threats confronting humanity from conflicts and climate change to artificial intelligence and reforming the U.N. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Global governance of AI is "imperative": UN experts

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - A high-powered UN advisory body said on Thursday that global governance of artificial intelligence is "imperative" and urged the United Nations to lay the foundations for the first inclusive global institutions to regulate the fast-growing technology. In a 100-page report, the group said AI "is transforming our world," offering tremendous potential for good from opening new areas of science and accelerating economic growth to improving public health, agriculture and optimising energy grids. But left ungoverned, it said, AI's benefits could be limited to a handful of countries, companies and individuals, while even more powerful systems than exist today "could upend the world of work," create autonomous weapons, and pose risks to peace and security. The advisory body outlined principles that should guide formation of new institutions to govern AI including international law, and especially human rights law. It calls on all governments and parties involved in AI to work together to protect human rights. The group made wide-ranging recommendations including establishing an international scientific panel on AI to create a global understanding of its capabilities and risks, and a global dialogue on AI governance at the UN to anchor future institutions on human rights principles and international law. The recommendations also call for a global AI fund to ensure that the technology bridges the divide between rich and poor nations and promotes achievement of U.N. development goals for 2030, and a "Standards Exchange" to foster technical compatibility. At present, the report said, only seven of the 193 UN member nations are party to seven recent prominent AI governance initiatives while 118 countries, primarily in the global South, "are missing entirely" from any conversation. Among the initiatives are the European Union's first-ever legal framework to regulate AI, which entered into force on August 1. This month, the Group of 20 leading world economies agreed to establish guidelines for developing artificial intelligence, calling for "ethical, transparent, and accountable use of AI," with human oversight and compliance with privacy and human rights laws. And lawmakers in California - home to many of the world's biggest AI companies - recently adopted legislation to regulate AI which is before the governor. The advisory board's report concluded on a positive but cautious note. "As experts, we remain optimistic about the future of AI and its potential for good," the report said. "That optimism depends, however, on realism about the risks and the inadequacy of structures and incentives currently in place." The board stressed that "The technology is too important, and the stakes are too high, to rely only on market forces and a fragmented patchwork of national and multilateral action." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed the advisory body last October, saying coordinated action is needed to keep the threat of artificial intelligence from becoming an uncontrolled "monster". The group comprises 39 prominent AI leaders from 33 countries -- chosen from over 2,000 nominations. They represent all regions of the world, are serving in their personal capacity, and include experts from government, the private sector and civil society. Guterres commended the group's work Thursday, expressing full support for its recommendations "which provide a blueprint to build on existing efforts and together, shape an international AI architecture that is inclusive, agile and effective - for today and the future". When the secretary-general told reporters last year that he planned to appoint the advisory body, Guterres said he would react favorably to a new U.N. agency on artificial intelligence and suggested as a model the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is knowledge-based and has some regulatory powers. But the advisory body said it wasn't recommending establishment of an agency. Amandeep Singh Gill, the secretary-general's chief's envoy on technology and a member of the advisory body, told a news conference launching the report that for now an agency isn't needed, "but it's not saying that we would never need something like that." The board wants that possibility to be studied, he said. The report was issued ahead of the Summit of the Future starting Sunday which Guterres has called to try to unite the world's divided nations and address the challenges and threats confronting humanity from conflicts and climate change to artificial intelligence and reforming the UN.

UN Advisory Body's Landmark Report Sets Blueprint for AI Governance

In a major step towards shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI), the United Nations Secretary-General's High-level Advisory Body on AI (HLAB-AI) released its much-anticipated final report titled "Governing AI for Humanity" on September 19, 2024. The report, hailed as a global milestone, lays out essential guidelines for managing AI's benefits and risks to ensure this transformative technology serves all of humanity, particularly those often left behind. The culmination of extensive consultations across diverse regions, the report builds on an interim release from December 2023. It provides a strategic framework aimed at closing the gaps in current AI governance systems and ensuring international cooperation in the governance of AI. Speaking on the report's release, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted its importance, stating, "This report is not the end of our journey, but a crucial milestone in our ongoing efforts to ensure AI serves all of humanity." Global Cooperation and AI Governance At the heart of the report are seven critical recommendations aimed at addressing governance gaps and ensuring AI is developed and regulated with equity and fairness. A key proposal is the establishment of a globally inclusive architecture for AI governance. This would prioritize international cooperation and collaboration, ensuring that AI's power isn't centralized in a few countries or companies, as is currently the case. The report also calls for urgent global action to ensure AI protects human rights, a concern echoed by Guterres. "It was already clear that AI came with immediate and long-term risks, including to human rights," he noted, underscoring the growing challenges AI poses to equity, ethics, and governance. Key Recommendations Among its major proposals, the report advocates for several pivotal initiatives to manage AI responsibly. These include: International Scientific Panel on AI: A body to promote a shared understanding of AI's capabilities, risks, and opportunities. Global Dialogue on AI Governance: A platform within the UN to anchor AI governance in international norms, including human rights standards. AI Capacity Development Network: Aimed at building AI expertise, particularly in developing countries that risk being left behind in AI advancements. Global Fund for AI and the SDGs: Designed to bridge the AI divide and ensure that AI technologies contribute to achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These recommendations are designed to foster inclusive growth and prevent AI from being monopolized by a small group of actors, ensuring that it serves the collective interests of humanity. Building a Future of Inclusive AI The report emphasizes the need for an "agile, inclusive, and effective" governance framework that reflects the rapidly evolving nature of AI. It stresses that global collaboration is crucial to ensure that AI develops in ways that are beneficial to all, and that no region or community is left out of its benefits. Guterres called on UN Member States to take bold actions in response to the report. "I urge all stakeholders to give these recommendations their fullest consideration," he said. He further stressed the importance of the upcoming Summit of the Future, where global leaders will have the opportunity to engage with the report's findings and take the first steps toward implementing its recommendations.

United Nations wants to treat AI with same urgency as climate change

UN report: Organization should take much more active role in AI monitoring, oversight. A United Nations report released Thursday proposes having the international body oversee the first truly global effort for monitoring and governing artificial intelligence. The report, produced by the UN secretary general's High Level Advisory Body on AI, recommends the creation of a body similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to gather up-to-date information on AI and its risks. The report calls for a new policy dialog on AI so that the UN's 193 members can discuss risks and agree upon actions. It further recommends that the UN take steps to empower poorer nations, especially those in the global south, to benefit from AI and contribute to its governance. These should include, it says, creating an AI fund to back projects in these nations, establishing AI standards and data-sharing systems, and creating resources such as training to help nations with AI governance. Some of the report's recommendations could be facilitated by the Global Digital Compact, an existing plan to address digital and data divides between nations. It finally suggests creating an AI office within the UN dedicated to coordinating existing efforts within the UN to meet the report's goals. "You've got an international community that agrees there are both harms and risks as well as opportunities presented by AI," says Alondra Nelson, a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study who served on the UN advisory body at the recommendation of the White House and State Department. The remarkable abilities demonstrated by large language models and chatbots in recent years have sparked hopes of a revolution in economic productivity but have also prompted some experts to warn that AI may be developing too rapidly and could soon become difficult to control. Not long after ChatGPT appeared, many scientists and entrepreneurs signed a letter calling for a six-month pauseon the technology's development so that the risks could be assessed. More immediate concerns include the potential for AI to automate disinformation, generate deepfake video and audio, replace workers en masse, and exacerbate societal algorithmic bias on an industrial scale. "There is a sense of urgency, and people feel we need to work together," Nelson says. The UN proposals reflect high interest among policymakers worldwide in regulating AI to mitigate these risks. But it also comes as major powers -- especially the United States and China -- jostle to lead in a technology that promises to have huge economic, scientific, and military benefits, and as these nations stake out their own visions for how it should be used and controlled. In March, the United States introduced a resolution to the UN calling on member states to embrace the development of "safe, secure, and trustworthy AI." In July, China introduced a resolution of its own that emphasized cooperation in the development of AI and making the technology widely available. All UN member states signed both agreements. "AI is part of US-China competition, so there is only so much that they are going to agree on," says Joshua Meltzer, an expert at the Brookings Institute, a Washington, DC, think tank. Key differences, he says, include what norms and values should be embodied by AI and protections around privacy and personal data. Differences between wealthy nations' views on AI is already causing market fissures. The EU has introduced sweeping AI regulations with data usage controls that have prompted some US companies to limit the availability of their products there. The hands-off approach adopted by the US government has led California to propose its own AI rules. Earlier versions of these regulations were criticized by AI companies based there as too onerous, for example in how they would require firms to report their activities to the government, resulting in the rules being watered down. Meltzer adds that AI is evolving at such a rapid pace that the UN will not be able to manage global cooperation alone. "There is clearly an important role for the UN when it comes to AI governance, but it needs to be part of a distributed kind of architecture," with individual nations also working on it directly, he says. "You've got a fast-evolving technology, and the UN is clearly not set up to handle that." The UN report seeks to establish common ground between member states by emphasizing the importance of human rights. "Anchoring the analysis in terms of human rights is very compelling," says Chris Russell, a professor at Oxford University in the UK who studies international AI governance. "It gives the work a strong basis in international law, a very broad remit, and a focus on concrete harms as they occur to people." Russell adds that there is a great deal of duplication in the work governments are doing to evaluate AI with a view to regulation. The US and UK governments have separate bodies working on probing AI models for misbehavior, for example. The UN's efforts might avoid further redundancy. "Working internationally and pooling our efforts makes a lot of sense," he says. Although governments may see AI as a way to gain a strategic edge, many scientists are aligned in their concerns about AI. Earlier this week, a group of prominent academics from the West and China issued a joint call for more collaboration on AI safety following a conference on the subject held in Vienna, Austria. Nelson, the advisory body member, says she believes government leaders can work together across important issues, too. But she says much will depend on how the UN and its member states chose to follow through on the blueprint for cooperation. "The devil will be in the details of implementation," she says. This story originally appeared on wired.com.

AI Development Cannot Be Left To Market Whim, UN Experts Warn

The development of artificial intelligence should not be guided by market forces alone, UN experts cautioned on Thursday, calling for the creation of tools for global cooperation. But they held back from suggesting the creation of a muscular worldwide governing body to oversee the rollout and evolution of a technology, the proliferation of which has raised fears around biases, misuse and dependence. The panel of around 40 experts from the fields of technology, law and data protection was established by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in October. Their report, published days before the start of a high-profile "Summit of the Future," raises the alarm over the lack of global governance of AI as well as the effective exclusion of developing countries from debates about the technology's future. Of the UN's 193 members, just seven are part of the seven major initiatives linked to AI, while 118 are entirely absent -- mostly nations of the global south. "There is, today, a global governance deficit with respect to AI," which by its nature is cross-border, the experts warn in their report. "AI must serve humanity equitably and safely," Guterres said this week. "Left unchecked, the dangers posed by artificial intelligence could have serious implications for democracy, peace, and stability." To the backdrop of his clarion call, the experts called on UN members to put in place mechanisms to grease the wheels of global cooperation on the issue, as well as to prevent unintended proliferation. "The development, deployment and use of such a technology cannot be left to the whims of markets alone," the report says. It called firstly for the creation of a group of scientific experts on AI modeled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forum of experts, whose reports are the last word on the issue of climate change. The panel would brief the international community on emerging risks, identify research needs as well as how it could be used to alleviate hunger, poverty, and gender inequality, among other goals. That proposal is included in the draft Global Digital Compact, still under discussion, which is due to be adopted Sunday at the "Summit of the Future." The report endorses setting up a light-touch "coordination" structure within the UN secretariat. But it stops short of a fully-fledged international governance body -- like that sought by Guterres -- based on the model of the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. "If the risks of AI become more serious, and more concentrated, it might become necessary for Member States to consider a more robust international institution with monitoring, reporting, verification, and enforcement powers," the report said. The authors acknowledge that owing to the warp speed of change in AI, it would be pointless to attempt to draw up a comprehensive list of dangers presented by the ever-evolving technology. But they singled out the perils of disinformation for democracy, increasingly realistic deepfakes -- particularly pornographic ones, as well as the evolution of autonomous weapons and AI use by criminal and terrorist groups. "Given the speed, autonomy and opacity of AI systems, however, waiting for a threat to emerge may mean that any response will come too late," the report said. "Continued scientific assessments and policy dialogue would ensure that the world is not surprised."

AI development cannot be left to market whim, UN experts warn

United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The development of artificial intelligence should not be guided by market forces alone, UN experts cautioned on Thursday, calling for the creation of tools for global cooperation. But they held back from suggesting the creation of a muscular worldwide governing body to oversee the rollout and evolution of a technology, the proliferation of which has raised fears around biases, misuse and dependence. The panel of around 40 experts from the fields of technology, law and data protection was established by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in October. Their report, published days before the start of a high-profile "Summit of the Future," raises the alarm over the lack of global governance of AI as well as the effective exclusion of developing countries from debates about the technology's future. Of the UN's 193 members, just seven are part of the seven major initiatives linked to AI, while 118 are entirely absent -- mostly nations of the global south. "There is, today, a global governance deficit with respect to AI," which by its nature is cross-border, the experts warn in their report. "AI must serve humanity equitably and safely," Guterres said this week. "Left unchecked, the dangers posed by artificial intelligence could have serious implications for democracy, peace, and stability." 'Too late'? To the backdrop of his clarion call, the experts called on UN members to put in place mechanisms to grease the wheels of global cooperation on the issue, as well as to prevent unintended proliferation. "The development, deployment and use of such a technology cannot be left to the whims of markets alone," the report says. It called firstly for the creation of a group of scientific experts on AI modeled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forum of experts, whose reports are the last word on the issue of climate change. The panel would brief the international community on emerging risks, identify research needs as well as how it could be used to alleviate hunger, poverty, and gender inequality, among other goals. That proposal is included in the draft Global Digital Compact, still under discussion, which is due to be adopted Sunday at the "Summit of the Future." The report endorses setting up a light-touch "coordination" structure within the UN secretariat. But it stops short of a fully-fledged international governance body -- like that sought by Guterres -- based on the model of the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. "If the risks of AI become more serious, and more concentrated, it might become necessary for Member States to consider a more robust international institution with monitoring, reporting, verification, and enforcement powers," the report said. The authors acknowledge that owing to the warp speed of change in AI, it would be pointless to attempt to draw up a comprehensive list of dangers presented by the ever-evolving technology. But they singled out the perils of disinformation for democracy, increasingly realistic deepfakes -- particularly pornographic ones, as well as the evolution of autonomous weapons and AI use by criminal and terrorist groups. "Given the speed, autonomy and opacity of AI systems, however, waiting for a threat to emerge may mean that any response will come too late," the report said. "Continued scientific assessments and policy dialogue would ensure that the world is not surprised."

AI development cannot be left to market whim, UN experts warn

UNITED NATIONS: The development of artificial intelligence should not be guided by market forces alone, UN experts cautioned on Thursday, calling for the creation of tools for global cooperation. But they held back from suggesting the creation of a muscular worldwide governing body to oversee the rollout and evolution of a technology, the proliferation of which has raised fears around biases, misuse and dependence. The panel of around 40 experts from the fields of technology, law and data protection was established by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in October. Their report, published days before the start of a high-profile "Summit of the Future," raises the alarm over the lack of global governance of AI as well as the effective exclusion of developing countries from debates about the technology's future. Of the UN's 193 members, just seven are part of the seven major initiatives linked to AI, while 118 are entirely absent -- mostly nations of the global south. "There is, today, a global governance deficit with respect to AI," which by its nature is cross-border, the experts warn in their report. "AI must serve humanity equitably and safely," Guterres said this week. "Left unchecked, the dangers posed by artificial intelligence could have serious implications for democracy, peace, and stability." 'Too late'? To the backdrop of his clarion call, the experts called on UN members to put in place mechanisms to grease the wheels of global cooperation on the issue, as well as to prevent unintended proliferation. "The development, deployment and use of such a technology cannot be left to the whims of markets alone," the report says. It called firstly for the creation of a group of scientific experts on AI modeled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forum of experts, whose reports are the last word on the issue of climate change. The panel would brief the international community on emerging risks, identify research needs as well as how it could be used to alleviate hunger, poverty, and gender inequality, among other goals. That proposal is included in the draft Global Digital Compact, still under discussion, which is due to be adopted Sunday at the "Summit of the Future." The report endorses setting up a light-touch "coordination" structure within the UN secretariat. But it stops short of a fully-fledged international governance body -- like that sought by Guterres -- based on the model of the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. "If the risks of AI become more serious, and more concentrated, it might become necessary for Member States to consider a more robust international institution with monitoring, reporting, verification, and enforcement powers," the report said. The authors acknowledge that owing to the warp speed of change in AI, it would be pointless to attempt to draw up a comprehensive list of dangers presented by the ever-evolving technology. But they singled out the perils of disinformation for democracy, increasingly realistic deepfakes -- particularly pornographic ones, as well as the evolution of autonomous weapons and AI use by criminal and terrorist groups. "Given the speed, autonomy and opacity of AI systems, however, waiting for a threat to emerge may mean that any response will come too late," the report said. "Continued scientific assessments and policy dialogue would ensure that the world is not surprised."

The United Nations will monitor AI with the highest priority - Softonic

Treating AI as an urgent issue as pressing as climate change, that is the goal of the UN We all know that AI can be a technology that changes everything for the better, but we also know that it has more than enough potential to be used in undesirable ways and destroy all the beauty in this world. Its regulation will determine the future of humanity. No half measures. Luckily for us, a United Nations report published today proposes that an international body oversee the first truly global effort to monitor and govern artificial intelligence. The report, prepared by the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Body on AI, recommends the creation of a body similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to gather updated information on AI and its risks. The report calls for a new political dialogue on AI so that the 193 UN members can discuss the risks and agree on measures. It also recommends that the UN take steps to ensure that poorer countries can benefit from AI and contribute to its governance. These measures include the creation of an AI fund to support projects in these countries, the establishment of AI standards and data exchange systems, and the creation of resources such as training to help countries in AI governance. Some of the recommendations from the report could be facilitated through the Digital Global Compact, an existing plan to address digital and data gaps between nations. Finally, it suggests the creation of an AI office within the UN dedicated to coordinating existing efforts within the UN to meet the objectives of the report. The remarkable capabilities demonstrated by large language models and chatbots in recent years have sparked hopes of a revolution in economic productivity, but they have also led some experts to warn that AI may be developing too quickly and could soon become difficult to control. Shortly after the appearance of ChatGPT, many scientists and entrepreneurs signed a letter calling for a six-month pause in the development of the technology to assess the risks. The United Nations wants to address this problem called AI before it's too late, although many wonder if it isn't already too late.