United Nations approves first resolution to ensure artificial intelligence benefits all nations
Date: 2024-03-22
The United Nations General Assembly has approved the first
resolution on artificial intelligence to ensure the technology
benefits all nations, respects human rights, and is "safe, secure, and
trustworthy."
The resolution was sponsored by the United
States and co-sponsored by 123 countries, including China. It was adopted by
consensus with a bang of the gavel and without a vote, meaning it has the
support of all 193 U.N. member nations.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and National
Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called it "historic" for setting out
principles for the safe use of artificial intelligence. Secretary of State
Antony Blinken also called it "a
landmark effort and a first-of-its-kind global approach to the development and
use of this powerful emerging technology."
The resolution aims to close the digital divide
between rich developed countries and poorer developing countries and make sure
they are all at the table in discussions on AI. It also aims to ensure that
developing countries have the technology and capabilities to take advantage of
AI's benefits, including detecting diseases, predicting floods, helping farmers
and training the next generation of workers.
The resolution recognizes the rapid acceleration
of AI development and use and stresses "the urgency of achieving global
consensus on safe, secure, and trustworthy artificial intelligence
systems." It also notes that "the governance of artificial
intelligence systems is an evolving area" that needs further discussions
on possible governance approaches. The resolution stresses that innovation and regulation
are mutually reinforcing, not mutually exclusive.
At a news conference after the vote, ambassadors
from the Bahamas, Japan, the Netherlands, Morocco, Singapore, and the United
Kingdom enthusiastically supported the resolution, joining the U.S. ambassador
who called it "a good day for the United Nations and a good day for
multilateralism." The U.N. resolution takes note of other U.N. efforts
including by Secretary-General António Guterres and the International
Telecommunication Union to ensure that AI is used to benefit the world.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
