UN to discuss potential risks and benefits of artificial intelligence

The UN General Assembly will consider a resolution highlighting the pros and cons of artificial intelligence and calling for international standards in the field.

Here's What We Know

The draft resolution, initiated by the US and supported by dozens of countries, emphasises the need for guidelines to ensure safe, reliable and trustworthy AI systems. However, military applications of artificial intelligence are excluded from the scope of the document.

The resolution places more emphasis on the positive potential of AI, including to bridge the gap in access to these technologies between and within countries. It aims to promote digital transformation and the equitable diffusion of AI to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

At the same time, the draft recognises the risks of misusing AI to cause harm, undermine human rights, reinforce bias and threaten data privacy. Countries are urged to refrain from using AI systems that cannot be operated in accordance with international law or pose unjustifiable risks.

Warnings about the dangers of AI, especially generative models for election interference, are becoming more widespread. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is calling for a specialised body to regulate AI along the lines of the IAEA.

There is a competition between key players such as the US, China and South Korea for leadership in shaping the rules for artificial intelligence on a global level.

Go Deeper:

• UN to discuss harnessing the power and potential of artificial intelligence
• UN secretary-general calls for regulation of artificial intelligence
• UN and Red Cross call for banning and limiting the use of killer robots
• UN chief urges tech companies to mitigate risks from AI
• UN forms AI council with Google, OpenAI and other experts

Source: TechXplore