UN Chief Calls for Global Cooperation to Democratize AI Access

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning about the global disparities in artificial intelligence (AI) access and its potential impacts on inequality. Speaking at a forum on AI capacity building in Shanghai, China, Guterres highlighted the concentration of AI capabilities within a few powerful companies and nations, contrasting this with the challenges faced by many countries in accessing AI tools.

The forum, held on Tuesday, provided a platform for Guterres to address the urgent need for international cooperation in AI development. “AI capacities today are concentrated in a handful of powerful companies and even fewer countries,” Guterres noted. “Meanwhile, too many countries face significant challenges in accessing AI tools.” He emphasized that addressing this disparity is critical for leveraging AI’s transformative potential, especially in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Guterres pointed out that the development agenda is currently off track for many SDGs. He argued that AI could play a crucial role in rescuing these goals, provided that its benefits are equitably shared. “To truly harness AI’s potential, we need international cooperation and solidarity,” he asserted, underscoring that global collaboration is key to realizing AI’s benefits for all.

However, the UN chief also cautioned about the uneven distribution of AI-related risks. “Without adequate guardrails, AI could further exacerbate inequalities and digital divides and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable,” Guterres warned. This underscores the necessity for inclusive governance structures that ensure AI’s benefits and risks are managed equitably.

In his speech, Guterres highlighted the upcoming Summit of the Future as a pivotal moment for advancing global digital cooperation. Governments are expected to endorse a new Global Digital Compact during the summit, which will play a significant role in addressing the issues raised. The UN Secretary-General emphasized the importance of this forum in laying the groundwork for inclusive AI governance.

Guterres also outlined ongoing UN efforts aimed at addressing AI inequalities. The UN’s High-level Advisory Body on AI is preparing a final report, expected later this month, which will propose several initiatives. These include the creation of an AI Capacity Development Network, the establishment of a Global AI Fund for SDGs, and the development of a Global Data Framework to support local AI ecosystems.

During his official visit to China, Guterres is set to participate in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing on Thursday. His visit also includes meetings with senior Chinese government officials and visits to UN offices and agencies in the country. Prior to his stay in China, Guterres was in Singapore, where he met with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and other senior officials.

Guterres’s statements come at a critical juncture as the world grapples with the implications of AI on global development and equality. His call for a more equitable distribution of AI tools and the establishment of robust international governance mechanisms reflects a growing recognition of the need to address both the opportunities and challenges posed by this transformative technology.

As the UN continues to push for comprehensive frameworks and collaborative efforts, the hope is that global leaders will heed Guterres’s call for action. The focus now shifts to how effectively these proposed measures will be implemented to ensure that AI can serve as a tool for inclusive development rather than exacerbating existing inequalities.