The United Nations Launches a Global Initiative for Artificial Intelligence to Ensure Access for All
In a strong warning to technology company leaders, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the future of artificial intelligence cannot be left to the "whims of a few billionaires".
This came during his speech at the Global AI Summit in India, where he urged world leaders and senior executives in the tech sector to collaborate to ensure that this revolutionary technology reaches everyone.
Guterres stated: "Artificial intelligence must belong to everyone," stressing that the future decisions regarding AI cannot be determined by a handful of countries or specific individuals, warning that delaying urgent action could widen the global equality gap.
He noted that the proper use of AI could yield significant benefits, including accelerating medical progress, enhancing learning opportunities, supporting food security, climate action, disaster preparedness, and improving access to essential public services.
However, he also warned of the risks, stating that this technology "could deepen inequalities, amplify biases, and cause harm".
The United Nations announced the establishment of a scientific advisory body for artificial intelligence to help countries make wise decisions regarding this technology.
Guterres also stressed the need to protect individuals, especially children, from exploitation, saying: "No child should be used as a testing ground for unregulated artificial intelligence".
In a practical step to promote global fairness, Guterres called for the creation of a global AI fund worth $3billion to support everyone’s access to technology, noting that this amount is less than 1% of the annual revenue of a single tech company, which is a "small price for the widespread deployment and public benefits of AI".
The Secretary-General warned that failing to invest could exclude many countries from the AI era, increasing the gap between nations.
He also highlighted the urgent need to adopt clean energy sources in data centers to reduce the environmental impact on vulnerable communities, given the increasing demand for AI on energy and water.
The summit saw the presence of prominent figures in technology such as Sam Altman from "OpenAI" and Sundar Pichai from "Google", with a consensus that AI should be a force for everyone, not a privilege for a limited group.
