The United Nations is taking steps to align the various national and regional policies on artificial intelligence through an upcoming report, according to UN tech envoy Amandeep Singh Gill.
The interim AI report, expected by the end of 2023, will examine existing governance frameworks and identify gaps that need to be addressed. The goal is to connect different governance responses so there are no regulatory gaps when it comes to emerging technologies like AI.
Tech envoy Amandeep Singh Gill said, "We need to examine the landscape of existing governance responses across borders, and then see where the gaps are and how we can connect the governance responses together so that there are no gaps.”
AI is advancing rapidly, and regulators and lawmakers are trying to keep up. The Group of Seven (G7) countries, which are some of the world's biggest economies, have agreed on a set of rules for companies that develop advanced AI. Europe is also close to agreeing on new AI regulations, and the U.S. President Joe Biden recently issued an order to address AI-related issues.
This week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will host the world's first global AI safety summit. The goal is to bring together experts from around the world to discuss how to make AI safe and beneficial for everyone.
The recommendations from the AI advisory group will be discussed at a U.N. summit in September next year. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has supported the idea of creating an international organization to oversee AI, similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Gill says that the U.N. provides a place for countries to come together and talk about how they are using AI and whether they need to update their rules. It's important to have common standards and guidelines for AI to ensure that it is used responsibly and ethically.
The AI advisory group, led by Spanish digital minister Carme Artigas and James Manyika from Alphabet, the parent company of Google, will have several meetings to discuss AI governance. Some will be in person, and others will be virtual.
The U.N.'s report on AI and the creation of the advisory group are important steps toward improving how governments respond to this new technology. The report will provide valuable insights and recommendations that will shape discussions on AI governance at the U.N. summit in 2024.
