Page 23 - AI for Good - Impact Report

AI for Good

The report stressed the concentration of AI regulation decision-making in wealthier nations,
excluding many countries from vital discussions on AI governance. It calls for enhanced global
cooperation to bridge this gap, helping to ensure a shared understanding of AI’s potential
risks and uncertainties, supported by unbiased, globally pooled specialist knowledge. One
key recommendation is the establishment of a specialized AI office within the UN to serve as a
central coordinating entity. The report also emphasized the need for a new social contract for
AI, engaging governments, civil society, industry, and researchers to ensure AI serves as a force
for good, promoting fair and positive outcomes for everyone.

The HLAB-AI’s call aligns with the UN’s broader efforts across multiple levels to tackle the ethical
and practical challenges posed by AI technologies. For instance, UNESCO, as a specialized UN
agency, has set global ethical guidelines for AI through its “Recommendation on the Ethics of
Artificial Intelligence”. These guidelines outline principles that emphasize the importance of
human rights, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability in AI development.

In addition to establishing ethical standards, the UN plays a crucial role in fostering international
cooperation by providing platforms for countries, experts, and stakeholders to engage in
dialogue about the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. These global discussions
are essential for developing a cohesive international framework capable of addressing the
inherently cross-border nature of AI technologies. The UN strategically aligns AI governance with
its broader mission by emphasizing how AI can contribute to achieving the SDGs. It advocates
for the responsible use of AI to address global challenges such as reducing poverty, enhancing
education and healthcare, helping to ensure that AI technologies are developed and deployed
in ways that support progress in these critical humanitarian areas.

Since 2017, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has led the "AI for Good" initiative.
This program aims to harness the potential of AI in addressing global challenges, particularly
those aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). AI for Good serves as a
collaborative platform that brings together AI innovators, experts, and stakeholders from diverse
sectors, including governments, academia, industry, and civil society. Its primary objective is to
facilitate the development and implementation of AI solutions that can have a positive impact
on society, especially in areas such as healthcare, education, environmental and sustainability,
and disaster response. The initiative hosts annual global summits where participants share
insights, discuss ethical and technical challenges, and explore practical AI applications that can
significantly enhance people's lives.

During the most recent summit in May 2024, the AI Governance Day featured discussions on
the complex challenges posed by the rapid development and deployment of AI. This event
brought together a diverse array of stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders,
academics, and representatives from civil society, to engage in high-level discussions on the
ethical, regulatory, and social implications of AI. These discussions underscored the challenge
of implementing effective AI governance frameworks, particularly regarding compliance and
enforcement, given the complex landscape of national and regional regulations. Achieving
global consensus on AI governance is crucial yet challenging due to the intricacies of
existing governance structures. The borderless nature of AI demands robust international
coordination to address its wide-reaching implications. Central to these discussions was the
establishment of trustworthy standards for AI, drawing on lessons from established models like
telecommunications and postal services, with a focus on ethics, fairness, and transparency.
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