The North American ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, supported by 54 co-sponsors – including Portugal and the European Union -, defended in a statement released today that AI “has enormous potential to shape economies, societies and the world for better” and that these benefits should extend equally to all countries, with a focus on developing countries.
Portugal is among more than 50 countries that support a proposed UN General Assembly resolution, drafted by the United States, which defends safe Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems for sustainable development.
In this sense, the United States presented for consideration a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly that aims to articulate a shared approach to AI systems.
The resolution calls on Member States to promote safe and reliable AI systems to address the world’s biggest challenges, including those related to poverty elimination, global health, food security, climate, energy and education.
“We are determined to bridge artificial intelligence and other digital divides between and within countries through capacity development, increasing digital literacy and other actions”, advocated Thomas-Greenfield.
“Consensus on this important topic would help extend the benefits of AI to Member States across all regions and levels of development, in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” added the US diplomat, in a joint statement.
The text also establishes a shared vision that AI systems must be human-centered, reliable, explainable, ethical, inclusive, privacy-preserving and accountable, with an orientation towards sustainable development and in full respect, promotion and protection of human rights and international law.
The resolution, the first from the United Nations on artificial intelligence, outlines principles that “will help make this vision a reality”.
The United States began negotiating with the 193 UN member states about three months ago, has spent hundreds of hours in direct talks with several countries, dozens of hours in negotiations and accepted contributions from 120 nations, a senior US official said. , under condition of anonymity.
The resolution went through several drafts and gained consensus support this week, and is expected to be formally considered later this month, the official said.
The United Nations launched a consultative body on AI last year with the aim of bringing together Governments, private companies, universities and civil society in a closer alignment between international standards and the way the technology is developed and implemented.
The AI advisory body will publish its final report next summer, and its recommendations will contribute to the Global Digital Compact proposed for adoption at the Future Summit in September this year.
Tags: Portugal among countries calling safer Artificial Intelligence
