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The UN General Assembly adopted the first global resolution on artificial intelligence. (Photo: Reuters).
JAKARTA – The United Nations (UN) General Assembly, Thursday (21/3/2024) adopted the first global resolution on artificial intelligence (AI). The resolution calls on countries to protect human rights, safeguard personal data, and monitor the risks of AI use.
The non-binding resolution was proposed by the United States and co-sponsored by China and 122 other countries. Initially, it took three months to negotiate with other UN members until substantive negotiations. In essence, this resolution advocates strengthening privacy policies.
“Today, all 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly have spoken with one voice, and together voted to regulate artificial intelligence rather than let it govern us,” said US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Alarabiya reported, Friday (22/3/2024), this resolution is the latest in a series of initiatives – some of which have no real power to shape AI development. Amid concerns AI could be used to disrupt democratic processes, encourage fraud, or cause drastic job losses, among other dangers.
“The inappropriate or malicious design, development, deployment and use of artificial intelligence systems pose risks that could undermine the protection, promotion and enforcement of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the resolution said.
In November 2023, the governments of the US, UK and more than a dozen other countries launched the first detailed international agreement on how to keep artificial intelligence safe from malicious actors, encouraging companies to create safe AI systems from the start.
Europe is ahead of the United States, with European Union legislators adopting a temporary deal this month to oversee the technology. The Biden administration has pressed legislators for AI regulation, but a polarized US Congress has made little progress.
Meanwhile, the White House is working to reduce AI's risks to consumers, workers and minority groups while enhancing national security with a new executive order in October 2023.
The officials acknowledged there are many active discussions with China, Russia, Cuba, other countries that often do not share this perspective. “We believe this resolution strikes the right balance between advancing development, while continuing to protect human rights,” one of the officials said.
Like governments around the world, Chinese and Russian officials are eagerly exploring the use of AI tools for a variety of purposes. Last month, Microsoft said it had caught hackers from both countries using Microsoft-backed OpenAI software to hone their spying skills.
(msf)