UNITED NATIONS — The General Assembly is poised to vote Thursday on the first-ever United Nations resolution on artificial intelligence, with the aim of ensuring that this powerful new technology benefits all nations, upholds human rights, and is deemed “safe, secure and trustworthy.”
The United States, the sponsor of the resolution, expressed hope that the resolution will be adopted by consensus, meaning it will have the support of all 193 U.N. member nations.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that the adoption of the resolution would mark a “historic step forward” in promoting the safe use of AI.
The resolution would garner global support for a basic set of principles for the development and utilization of AI, while outlining a strategy to harness AI systems for positive purposes while mitigating risks,” he said in a statement to The Associated Press earlier in March.
The draft resolution aims to bridge the digital divide between wealthy developed nations and less affluent developing countries, ensuring that all are involved in discussions on AI. Additionally, it strives to equip developing countries with the technology and capabilities needed to leverage the benefits of AI, such as disease detection, flood prediction, agricultural assistance, and workforce training.
The draft acknowledges the rapid advancement and utilization of AI and emphasizes “the pressing need to achieve global consensus on safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems.”
It also acknowledges that “the governance of artificial intelligence systems is an evolving area” that requires further deliberation on potential governance approaches.
Major tech companies have generally supported the need for AI regulation, while lobbying to ensure that any regulations are in their favor.
European Union lawmakers finalized approval on March 13 for the world’s first comprehensive AI regulations, set to come into effect by May or June after final formalities.
Countries worldwide, including the U.S. and China, as well as the Group of 20 major industrialized nations, are also working on formulating AI regulations. The draft resolution acknowledges other U.N. efforts, including those by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the International Telecommunication Union, to ensure the beneficial use of AI globally.
Sullivan informed AP that the United States turned to the General Assembly “to engage in a truly global conversation on how to address the implications of the rapidly advancing AI technology.”
The U.S. draft resolution encourages all countries, regional and international organizations, tech communities, civil society, the media, academia, research institutions, and individuals “to develop and support regulatory and governance approaches and frameworks” for safe AI systems.
It cautions against “improper or malicious design, development, deployment and use of artificial intelligence systems, such as without adequate safeguards or in a manner inconsistent with international law.”
A key objective, as outlined in the draft resolution, is to utilize AI to drive progress towards achieving the U.N.’s lagging development goals for 2030, including eradicating global hunger and poverty, enhancing global health, ensuring quality secondary education for all children, and attaining gender equality.
The draft urges the 193 U.N. member states and others to assist developing countries in accessing the benefits of digital transformation and safe AI systems. It “emphasizes that human rights and fundamental freedoms must be respected, protected and promoted throughout the life cycle of artificial intelligence systems.”
The United States commenced negotiations with all U.N. member nations approximately three months ago, engaging in hundreds of hours of direct talks with individual countries and 42 hours of negotiations, and incorporating input from 120 nations, according to a senior U.S. official. The resolution underwent multiple drafts and secured consensus support from all member states last week, the official noted, speaking on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly.
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told AP last week that the resolution “seeks to build international consensus on a shared approach to the design, development, deployment and use of AI systems,” particularly in support of the 2030 U.N. goals.
If adopted, she stated, it would mark “a historic step forward in promoting safe, secure and trustworthy AI worldwide.”
