G7 Digital Ministerial Meeting - Session 1 (AI)

G7 Digital Ministerial Meeting - Session 1: Strengthening international cooperation on a human-centric AI and its use against inequalities

15 May 2019 - Paris, France

Thank you minister and thank you for inviting ITU to this discussion and your warm hospitality. I am pleased to have this opportunity to inform you of our activities on AI.

ITU, as the UN specialized agency for information and communication technologies, is an advocate of AI for good, whilst being mindful of the challenges and risks associated with the technology.

ITU strongly supports cross-sector collaboration, and in that we benefit from a wide membership of 193 governments as well as some 900 private sector companies, universities, and other international and regional organizations reflecting the rapidly changing nature of today’s digital economy. This enables us to develop the technical standards and harmonise spectrum to ensure interoperability and reduced costs through economies of scale.

In two weeks’ time, over 2000 AI innovators and public and private-sector decision-makers from around the globe will gather at ITU’s headquarters in Geneva for the third “AI for Good Global Summit", the leading UN platform for global and inclusive dialogue on AI. Our objective is to generate new AI projects that can accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Our vision is to ensure trusted, safe and inclusive development of AI technologies and equitable access to their benefits, recognizing that the marginalization of countries with low technological capabilities is a significant risk. Which is why we place great importance on building human capacity in developing countries. 

ITU is committed to collaboration, coordination and cooperation amongst the many organisations involved in addressing the challenges of AI and taking advantage of the opportunities. The “Focus Group on AI and Health” created by ITU and WHO is a perfect example of how we can work together across sectors to develop the technical standards that can improve and even save lives.

ITU’s latest statistics show that more than half of the world’s population now uses the Internet for the first time in history. We each need to bring our own specific competencies to the table, pool our resources and avoid duplication of effort so as to connect the other half, mainly those living in rural and remote communities, such that everyone everywhere can benefit from the power of technology to improve their lives and livelihoods. 

ITU’s priorities reflect G7’s priorities. So, we call on G7 countries to continue to play an active role in ITU’s efforts on AI, and other technologies, so as to turn today’s digital revolution into a development revolution.

Thank you