ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. Serpentine Galleries in London, United Kingdom. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in his speech during the Council of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) event in Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday (June 12, 2024), said policy makers should be one in ensuring policies on innovation will remain firm against possible inequality. (Photo by Anadolu)
GENEVA – The secretary-general of the United Nations urged countries on Wednesday to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) "never stands for advancing inequality."
In his remarks to the Council of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Geneva, Antonio Guterres warned that innovation was outpacing the capacity to regulate it.
"We must join forces to ensure AI never stands for advancing inequality. Such a unique challenge requires unique solutions. We have no time to waste," he warned, saying, “We need to break silos and be inventive."
Guterres stressed that developing countries need technical assistance and investments in areas like data, computing power and talent to fully participate in and benefit from the AI revolution.
"ITU’s work to build capacity in developing countries ... is an important part of our efforts to prevent a new AI divide that would only aggravate existing inequalities," he said.
Noting the world faces "a digital divide, a data divide, an investment divide and a governance divide," he said, states need to work together to build bridges, pointing to the upcoming Summit of the Future event this September as a "key opportunity" to do so.
"We aim to agree on a Global Digital Compact to update and upgrade digital cooperation," he said.
"I am encouraged by the growing momentum towards an ambitious Global Digital Compact that aims to connect the unconnected and put an end to digital exclusion in all its forms; chart a course for a safe and inclusive AI that puts people at the center and protects human rights; and channel innovation to accelerate progress on the sustainable development goals and protect our planet," Guterres said. (Anadolu)
