The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted the first global resolution on artificial intelligence that encourages countries to safeguard human rights, protect personal data, and monitor AI for risks, Reuters reported.
The nonbinding resolution, proposed by the United States and co-sponsored by China and over 120 other nations, also advocates the strengthening of privacy policies.
“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,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.
The resolution is the latest in a series of initiatives – few of which carry teeth – by governments around the world to shape AI’s development, amid fears it could be used to disrupt democratic processes, turbocharge fraud or lead to dramatic job losses, among other harms.
ArsTechnica reported the United Nations General assembly unanimously consented to adopt what some call the first global resolution on AI. The resolution aims to foster the protection of personal data, enhance privacy policies, ensure close monitoring for AI for potential risks, and uphold human rights. It emerged from a proposal by the United States and received backing from China and 121 other countries.
According to ArsTechnica, being a nonbonding agreement and thus effectively toothless, the resolution seems broadly popular in the AI industry. On X, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith wrote, “We fully support the UN’s adoption of the comprehensive AI resolution. The consensus reached today marks a critical step towards establishing international guardrails for the ethical and sustainable development of AI, ensuring this technology serves the needs of everyone.”
The Hill reported the White House applauded the newly approved United Nations resolution on artificial intelligence (AI) safety Thursday, calling it a “historic step” to ensuring “trustworthy” advancements in technology.
The U.N. General Assembly approved the resolution, proposed by the United States and co-sponsored by 123 other countries, senior administration officials told reporters Thursday.
The proposal include a “comprehensive vision” for nations’ deployment and use of AI technology and how countries should respond to its benefits and challenges.
“We now look forward to building off of this landmark achievement,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan wrote in a statement. “As this technology swiftly evolves, we will continue to strengthen international cooperation and respond to the far-reaching implications of AI.”
According to The Hill, the resolution comes amid growing concerns over the technology’s capabilities and the security risks associated with it. Congressional leaders have repeatedly sounded the alarm over the past year, hosting a series of hearings an forums to learn more about AI.
In my opinion, it sounds like several countries have decided to protect their people from the potential abuses of AI. That’s a good idea, and it should be upheld by all of those countries.