Page 21 - AI for Good - Impact Report

AI for Good

AI regulations and the role of frameworks

This section explores the latest global developments in AI regulation, highlighting key policies,
agreements, and regulatory bodies shaping AI platforms, tools, and technologies. While the EU
AI Act stands as the first comprehensive AI legislation, we have provided a broader overview
of how national and regional strategies are evolving worldwide.

It discusses the UN’s role in international AI governance, focusing on its contributions to global
policies and frameworks. This section analyzes governance aspects, including how ethical
matters such as bias, transparency, accountability, and responsibility are being integrated into
AI regulation across different regions.

Regulations and frameworks on different levels

AI has evolved rapidly from a specialized technology to a key element of modern industry,
governance, and society. It has created vast opportunities across sectors, impacting areas such
as health care, finance, transportation, and education. AI is now deeply integrated into systems
that drive economies and address global challenges, outlined in the UN SDGs.

However, this rapid expansion of AI technology also brings significant risks. These include
ethical concerns like algorithmic bias, which can perpetuate or even exacerbate existing
inequalities, and privacy violations, where personal data might be misused. Additionally, AI
can be weaponized by individuals or organizations, including through cyberthreats, in ways
that harm public trust, such as through the creation of deepfakes. The potential misuse of AI
by malicious actors or the unintended consequences of poorly designed systems necessitates
a robust framework for governance.

In response to the opportunities presented by AI as well as the risks it poses, there have been
comprehensive international developments aimed at establishing comprehensive AI governance
frameworks. These developments encompass a wide array of initiatives, ranging from high-
level strategic planning to the formulation of codes of conduct, and even the implementation
of binding regulatory measures. These efforts are being undertaken across multiple levels of
governance, including at the state level, on a regional level as well as on the global scale –
reflecting the complex and interconnected nature of AI’s impact on the world.

Today, AI governance is inherently a multi-layered effort, involving a diverse range of stakeholders
who operate at these different levels. Each level of governance contributes uniquely to the overall
framework, addressing specific aspects of AI development and deployment. At the global level,
international organizations and coalitions work to set broad standards and foster international
cooperation, facilitating a coordinated approach to managing AI’s global implications.

The overarching goal of these multi-tiered frameworks is to strike a careful balance between
fostering the innovation and investment that drive AI’s growth and deploying these technologies
in a responsible and ethical manner. Central to this objective is the implementation of safeguards
designed to protect individuals, communities, and societies from the potential harm associated
with AI. These safeguards aim to address a wide spectrum of concerns, from mitigating ethical
matters such as bias and discrimination to protecting privacy and ensuring that AI systems are
transparent and accountable in their operations.

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