Governing AI for Humanity: UN Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence final report

Posted 20 Sep 2024

2 min read

Advisory body was formed last year to undertake analysis and advance recommendations for the international governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Need for Global Governance of AI

Accelerated development of AI concentrates power and wealth on a global scale, with geopolitical and geoeconomic implications.
Lack of understanding of AI’s inner workings to fully control its outputs or predict its evolution.
As AI technology is transboundary in structure and application, it cannot be left to market forces alone.
For equitable distribution of AI’s opportunities such as optimizing energy grids, improving public health and agriculture, etc.

Gap in Global AI governance

Lack of truly global and comprehensive frameworks: despite numerous AI governance documents and initiatives.
Lack of representation: In the sampled countries, seven countries are parties to all the AI governance efforts, whereas 118 countries are parties to none (primarily in the global South).
Implementation issue: Commitments do not translate into tangible outcomes leading to hindrance in sharing of the opportunities provided by AI equally.

Recommendations

An independent international scientific panel on AI.
Twice-yearly intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on AI governance.
Creation of an AI standards exchange, bringing together stakeholders.
Creation of an AI capacity development network.
Creation of a global fund for AI to facilitate access to AI.
Creation of global AI data framework, developed through a process initiated by a relevant agency.
AI office within the UN Secretariat for supporting and coordinating global efforts in AI risk management and global governance.