UN AI Advisory Body Releases Final Report with Seven Key Recommendations for AI Governance
On Thursday, the United Nations’ artificial intelligence advisory body released its final report, proposing seven recommendations aimed at addressing risks and gaps in AI governance. This advisory body, established last year with 39 members, was tasked with tackling issues related to the international governance of AI. The recommendations will be discussed at a U.N. summit scheduled for September.
One of the key recommendations is the establishment of a panel dedicated to providing impartial and reliable scientific knowledge about AI, addressing information asymmetries between AI laboratories and the global community.
Since the launch of Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022, the use of AI has surged, raising significant concerns about the proliferation of misinformation, fake news, and copyright infringement. Despite the rapid development of AI technologies, only a limited number of countries have enacted laws to regulate their use. The European Union has taken the lead by passing a comprehensive AI Act, whereas the United States has opted for a more flexible approach based on voluntary compliance. In contrast, China has focused on maintaining social stability and state control over AI developments.
On September 10, the United States was among approximately 60 countries that endorsed a “blueprint for action” aimed at governing the responsible use of AI in military applications, while China refrained from supporting this non-binding document.
The U.N. emphasized that as AI development remains concentrated in the hands of a few multinational corporations, there is a risk that the technology could be imposed on people without their input on its usage.
In addition to establishing a new policy dialogue on AI governance, the report advocates for the creation of an AI standards exchange and a global network for AI capacity development to enhance governance capabilities.
Among other proposals, the U.N. suggests the establishment of a global AI fund to address existing gaps in capacity and collaboration. Furthermore, it calls for a global AI data framework to ensure transparency and accountability in AI use.
Finally, the report recommends the formation of a small AI office to support and coordinate the implementation of these proposals.
Source: Reuters
