United Nations unanimously passes historic global AI resolution

Friday, March 22, 2024

The United Nations General Assembly, in a landmark decision on Thursday, saw all 193 member states unanimously agreeing on the first-ever global resolution concerning artificial intelligence (AI). This resolution is a call to action for nations worldwide to prioritize the safeguarding of human rights and personal data in the face of AI’s rapid advancement. Spearheaded by the United States and gaining support from China and over 120 countries, this nonbinding resolution encourages the international community to enforce stronger privacy measures and remain vigilant against AI-related risks.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, emphasized the collective decision to regulate AI technology proactively, ensuring that it serves humanity’s interests rather than posing uncontrollable threats. This resolution emerges amidst growing global concern over AI’s potential to undermine democratic integrity, escalate fraudulent activities, and significantly impact employment landscapes.

The document highlights the urgent need for responsible AI development and deployment, stressing that negligence in these areas could severely compromise human rights and freedoms. This initiative aligns with recent efforts by various nations, including a comprehensive agreement led by the U.S. and the UK, aimed at safeguarding AI from misuse and ensuring the technology’s security from its inception.

The European Union has made notable progress in AI governance, reaching a provisional consensus on regulatory frameworks earlier this month. While the U.S. administration is advocating for legislative action on AI regulation, political divisions have stalled significant advances in Congress. In response, the White House introduced an executive order in October to mitigate AI risks and reinforce national security measures.

According to U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, negotiations for this resolution spanned nearly four months, laying down foundational principles for the future of AI. Despite intense discussions and differing viewpoints, particularly with countries like Russia and China, the resolution marks a critical step towards a globally coordinated approach to AI management. Both China and Russia, despite their exploration of AI for various applications, have faced allegations of utilizing AI software for espionage purposes, claims which China denies and Russia has not addressed.

[Image Source: the United Nations]

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