Following the momentous adoption of a landmark resolution on Artificial Intelligence (AI) by the United Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Representative to the UN, expressed jubilation at the global consensus achieved.
The resolution, crafted through extensive collaboration with over 120 countries and supported by an equal number of Member States, signifies a unified commitment to governing AI for the benefit of humanity.
In her remarks, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield emphasised the inclusive nature of the resolution’s development, with contributions from diverse stakeholders including governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, and technical communities.
Notable early co-sponsors such as the Bahamas, the Netherlands, Morocco, Singapore, the UK, and Japan stood alongside her in solidarity.
The resolution reaffirms the importance of harnessing AI to advance sustainable development while upholding fundamental freedoms and human rights.
It underscores the necessity of capacity building and bridging digital divides to ensure equitable access to AI benefits across all nations and communities.
Key highlights of the resolution include commitments to responsible AI development, the eradication of bias and discrimination in AI systems, and the recognition of education and transparency as essential elements in AI governance.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield underscored the existential significance of AI, highlighting its potential to address pressing global challenges such as disease detection, disaster prediction, food production enhancement, and education accessibility.
Responding to questions from journalists, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield clarified that the resolution, while not binding, serves as a foundational document for global AI governance and will not be presented to the Security Council. Instead, it is seen as a comprehensive framework endorsed by all 193 UN member states.
Addressing concerns about AI’s impact on remote villages in Africa, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield stressed AI’s potential to improve access to basic necessities such as water and electricity.
She emphasised that AI initiatives align with the Sustainable Development Goals and aim to address the fundamental needs of marginalised communities.
The adoption of the resolution marks a significant step forward in international efforts to harness AI for the greater good, paving the way for collaborative action to realise its transformative potential while ensuring ethical and responsible deployment.
