Page 44 - AI Governance Day - From Principles to Implementation

AI Governance Day - From Principles to Implementation

ago. I remember how then, as now, we didn't even have the vocabulary to describe what we
were dealing with, but that didn't stop us from moving forward.

What we've learned from the WSIS (World Summit on the Information Society) process is that
we can take steps toward governance even if we're building the plane as we fly it. We can
come together as a community, share experiences, practices, lessons learned, barriers, and
challenges, knowing that once more, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to balancing benefits
and reconciling regulatory risks. We must look at governance from many different angles and
the only way forward is through a multi-stakeholder approach.

That’s why I'm so glad that today, gathered in this room, we have our WSIS community with us.
Welcome to the WSIS community. We hope that you will help guide us through these many
complex questions and challenges.

After listening closely to this morning's discussions, I believe there are three key pieces that
must be part of any AI governance effort.

Development of technical standards

The first piece, and obviously very relevant to the ITU, is the development of technical standards.
As we heard this morning, those working on AI governance already recognize how technical
standards can help implement effective guardrails and support interoperability. This is where
ITU has such a key role to play as an international standards development organization. We
already have over 200 AI-related standards that we have either developed or are in the process
of developing. As part of the World Standards Cooperation, a high-level collaboration between
IEC, ISO, and ITU, we are advancing the development of global standards that can make AI
systems more transparent, explainable, reliable, and secure. This provides certainty in the
market and eases innovation for both large and small industry players everywhere, including
in developing countries.

Putting core UN values at the heart of AI governance

The second element is putting human rights, inclusion, and other core UN values at the heart
of AI governance. All stakeholders deserve a voice in shaping AI's present and future. But who
can afford the compute resources that go into producing AI applications? Who is on the teams
that design the foundational models? Right now, the power of AI is concentrated in the hands
of a few. This is risky and ethically precarious for humanity. We must work towards an inclusive
environment where diverse perspectives, including those on gender, are reflected in policies
that align with UN values. International AI governance efforts must account for the needs
of all countries, and that's why the United Nations, together with governments, companies,
academics, civil society, and the technical community, must play a key role in ensuring that
power is distributed equitably. This will not happen automatically.

Development through capacity building

The third element is inclusive development through capacity building. ITU has a long history
of bringing the voices of the global south to the emerging technology table. Part of this means
making sure that every workforce in the world can deal with the challenges and risks brought
about by artificial intelligence. That's why we’ve been integrating AI capacity support in our
digital transformation offerings. We’ll continue to roll out these initiatives with many of our UN

34