The General Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution to promote safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) systems for sustainable development, Reuters reports.
The resolution stresses the need for the standard of safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems to promote, not hinder, digital transformation and equitable access to their benefits in order to achieve sustainable development and address other shared global challenges, particularly for developing countries.
It encourages UN member states and invites multi-stakeholders from all regions and countries to develop and support regulatory and governance approaches and frameworks related to safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems that create an enabling ecosystem at all levels.
It calls on member states and invites other stakeholders to take action to cooperate with and provide assistance to developing countries toward inclusive and equitable access to the benefits of digital transformation and safe AI systems.
"Today, all 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly have spoken in one voice, and together chosen to govern artificial intelligence, rather than let it govern us. The groundbreaking resolution adopted today cements global consensus for safe, secure, trustworthy AI systems, systems that both advance sustainable development and respect fundamental freedoms," said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in the United States.
The resolution emphasizes that human rights and fundamental freedoms must be respected, protected and promoted throughout the life cycle of AI systems.
It encourages all member states and other stakeholders to promote safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems in an inclusive and equitable manner, and for the benefit of all, and foster an enabling environment for such systems to address the world's greatest challenges, with specific consideration of developing countries and leaving no one behind.
"A first of its kind resolution adopted not only by majority, but by consensus, because ultimately, the risk and benefits of AI have the potential to impact all of us. And so, approaching it requires all of us. The resolution we just adopted reflected our shared responsibility and collective fate. It leaves no one behind. It lays the groundwork for AI systems that leave no one behind either," she said.
"AI will be able to bring to people in remote villages access to technology, but access to the basic needs that they didn't have access to before. And the whole idea of this is to bridge that gap," she continued.
The resolution recognizes that data are fundamental to the development and operation of AI systems. It emphasizes that good data governance is essential to safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems for sustainable development.
It acknowledges the importance of continuing the discussion on development in the area of AI governance so that international approaches keep pace with the evolution of AI systems and their uses.
"This resolution is a steppingstone for existing and future multilateral initiatives on digital cooperation and on AI in particular. This resolution is not a net in itself, but the beginning of our collective journey to shape safe, secure, and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development that leaves no one behind," said Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Morocco.
