The United Nations
Secretary-0General António Guterres has reiterated the urgent need to bridge
the digital divide, calling it a "moral and humanitarian imperative"
essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Mr. Guterres who paid a
surprise visit to the ITU Council session, praised AI as the "biggest revolution since the invention of the internet"
but expressed concerns about its unregulated deployment, which may exacerbate
inequality. He urged global cooperation to ensure AI serves humanity and
promotes sustainable development.
The Secretary-General
highlighted the growing momentum towards a Global Digital Compact, aiming to
connect the unconnected, promote safe and inclusive AI, and harness innovation
to achieve the SDGs and protect the planet.
During a Q&A session,
he addressed questions from representatives across six regions, covering topics
such as aligning the Global Digital Compact with the World Summit on Information
Society processes, assisting Palestine in rebuilding its digital
infrastructure, addressing the digital gender divide, and leveraging digital
technologies for Africa's prosperity.
By:
Nana Appiah Acquaye
