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Abstract

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on responsible use of AI backed by 120 Member States to further the application of AI for attain Sustainable Development Goals and more. This commentary will analyse the implications of the UN Resolution.

Keywords: United Nations, Artificial Intelligence, Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

The ever-growing age of large language models and open-source datasets has seen a spike of malicious activities using AI, in terms of misinformation to large pig butchering scams and even military weaponry, the significance of Artificial Intelligence has global implications. In light of the same, the United Nations General Assembly on 21st March 2024, Thursday introduced the draft resolution for Seizing the opportunities of safe, secure, and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development. The resolution focused on including promoting equitable access, managing the risks of AI, protecting privacy, guarding against misuse, preventing exacerbated bias and discrimination, and ensuring that protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms is central to the development and use of AI systems. The resolution adopted unanimously without a vote, the Assembly “highlighted the respect, protection and promotion of human rights in the design, development, deployment and the use of AI” (UN News, 2024).

The resolution puts forth a model where governments would interact with civil society, private organizations, international organizations, and other stake holders to curb digital divide and realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development using AI in a responsible manner, to cease or refrain from use of Artificial Intelligence systems which would violate International human rights. The key section of the resolution is as under (UNGA, 2024).

Resolves to bridge the artificial intelligence and other digital divides between and within countries.

Resolves to promote safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems to accelerate progress towards the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, further bridging the artificial intelligence and other digital divides between and within countries; and stresses the need for the standard of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems to promote, not hinder, digital transformation and equitable access to their benefits in order to achieve all 17 Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental – and address other shared global challenges, particularly for developing countries.

Encourages Member States and invites multi-stakeholders from all regions and countries, within their respective roles and responsibilities, including from the private sector, international and regional organizations, civil society, the academia and research institutions and technical communities and individuals, to develop and support regulatory and governance approaches and frameworks related to safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems that create an enabling ecosystem at all levels, including for innovation, entrepreneurship and the dissemination of knowledge and technologies on mutually agreed terms, recognizing that effective partnership and cooperation between Governments and multi-stakeholders is necessary in developing such approaches and frameworks.

Calls upon Member States and invites other stakeholders to take action to cooperate with and provide assistance to developing countries towards inclusive and equitable access to the benefits of digital transformation and safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems.

Emphasizes that human rights and fundamental freedoms must be respected, protected and promoted throughout the life cycle of artificial intelligence systems, calls upon all Member States and, where applicable, other stakeholders to refrain from or cease the use of artificial intelligence systems that are impossible to operate in compliance with international human rights law or that pose undue risks to the enjoyment of human rights, especially of those who are in vulnerable situations, and reaffirms that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, including throughout the life cycle of artificial intelligence systems.

Encourages all Member States, where appropriate, in line with their national priorities and circumstances and while implementing their distinct national regulatory and governance approaches and frameworks, and, where applicable, other stakeholders to promote safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence 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, including achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental

Recognizes also that data is fundamental to the development and operation of artificial intelligence systems; emphasizes that the fair, inclusive, responsible and effective data governance, improving data generation, accessibility and infrastructure, and the use of digital public goods are essential to harnessing the potential of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development, and urges Member States to share best practices on data governance and to promote international cooperation, collaboration and assistance on data governance for greater consistency and interoperability, where feasible, of approaches for advancing trusted cross-border data flows for safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems, and make its development more inclusive, equitable, effective and beneficial to all

Acknowledges the importance of continuing the discussion on developments in the area of artificial intelligence governance so that international approaches keep pace with the evolution of artificial intelligence systems and their uses; and encourages continued efforts by the international community to promote inclusive research, mapping and analysis that benefit all parties on the potential impacts and applications that artificial intelligence systems and rapid technological change can have in the development of existing and new and emerging technologies and on accelerating the achievement of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and to inform how to develop, promote and implement effective, internationally interoperable safeguards, practices, standards and tools for artificial intelligence designers, developers, evaluators, deployers, users and other stakeholders for safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems; as well as stresses the need for Governments, the private sector, civil society, international and regional organizations, academia and research institutions and technical communities and all other stakeholders to continue to work together, as appropriate; as well as acknowledges the need for more cohesive, effective, coordinated and inclusive engagement and participation of all communities, particularly from developing countries, in the inclusive governance of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems.

Encourages the private sector to adhere to applicable international and domestic laws and act in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework; acknowledges the importance of more inclusive and equitable access to the benefits of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems; and recognizes the need for increased collaboration, including between and within the public and private sectors and civil society, academia and research institutions and technical communities, to provide and promote fair, open, inclusive and non-discriminatory business environment, economic and commercial activities, competitive ecosystems and marketplaces across the life cycle of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence; as well as encourages Member States to develop policies and regulations to promote competition in safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems and related technologies, including by supporting and enabling new opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs and technical talent, and enabling fair competition in the artificial intelligence marketplace, through critical investment, especially for developing countries.

Calls upon specialized agencies, funds, programmes, other entities, bodies and offices, and related organizations of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates and resources, to continue to assess and enhance their response to leverage the opportunities and address the challenges posed by artificial intelligence systems in a collaborative, coordinated and inclusive manner, through appropriate inter-agency mechanisms. including by conducting research, mapping and analysis that benefit all parties on the potential impacts and applications; reporting on progress and challenges in addressing issues; and cooperating with and assisting developing countries in capacity building, access and sharing the benefits of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems in achieving all 17 Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental; stressing the need to close artificial intelligence and other digital divides between and within countries.

The key points of the resolution focuses on its applicability and approach for an inclusive approach to AI and technology which will adhere to overall target of attaining 2030 sustainable development and combating digital divide and responsible use of AI. The US Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, introduced the draft resolution and in her introductory remarks stated the following (United Nations, 2024).

“Govern this technology rather than have it govern us”.

Conclusion

While the resolution does put forward an equitable commitment towards members countries, it does lack clarity, the resolution does call for responsible use of AI and that it does not infringe on the privacy and right of the people, it fails however to quantify as to what conditions or presets would be a violation of said resolution. Especially in an environment where AI is vastly growing and application are already active in warfronts, in terms of military technology such as the Gospel AI system of Israel, Autonomous drone swarms developed by the broader west. Countries developing precision defence and offense systems are in high demand and even the United States which introduced the draft resolution of AI is no stranger to such technology.

The notion of how effective the resolution will be is debatable since the draft resolution itself is in its nascent stages, however if the application of AI based technology is harnessed it can undoubtedly advance fields of medicine, science, agriculture and more. This resolution is a probable precursor for the UN Secretary-General’s AI Advisory Body which is said to release a full report in the summer of 2024, ahead of the Summit of the Future (UN AIAB, 2023).

Works Cited

UN AIAB. (2023, December 21). UN AI Advisory Body calls for grounding artificial intelligence in universal principles, suggests.UN AI Advisory Body:Retrieved March 22, 2024, https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un_ai_advisory_body_interim_report_press_release.pdf

UN News. (2024, March 21). General Assembly adopts landmark resolution on artificial intelligence. UN News: Retrieved March 22, 2024, https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147831

UNGA. (2024, March 11). Seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial. UN Org: Retrieved March 22, 2024, https://undocs.org/Home/Mobile?FinalSymbol=A%2F78%2FL.49&Language=E&DeviceType=Desktop&LangRequested=False

United Nations. (2024, March 21). General Assembly Adopts Landmark Resolution on Steering Artificial Intelligence towards Global Good, Faster Realization of Sustainable Development. UN Meetings Coverage and Press Releases: Retrieved March 22, 2024, https://press.un.org/en/2024/ga12588.doc.htm