United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told a forum on artificial intelligence (AI) capacity development in Shanghai, China, on Tuesday that AI capabilities are concentrated "in a handful of powerful companies and an even smaller number of countries"
Meanwhile, many other countries face major challenges in accessing these tools.
Given the potential of this technology for sustainable development, it is all the more important to bridge this gap. With many of the 2030 Agenda goals off track, artificial intelligence can help save them.
"To truly harness the potential of AI, we need international cooperation and solidarity," added António Guterres.
Unequal risks
The UN chief also emphasized that, just like the benefits of AI, the risks are also unevenly distributed.
"Without adequate safeguards, AI could further exacerbate inequalities and digital divides and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable," he warned.
"We must seize this historic opportunity to lay the foundation for inclusive AI governance for the benefit of all humanity," he said.
Opportunities
Guterres described the upcoming Future Summit, at which governments are expected to adopt a new Global Digital Compact, as an important forum for achieving just that.
He also pointed to the ongoing efforts throughout the UN system.
For example, the UN High-Level Advisory Panel on Artificial Intelligence is expected to make a number of recommendations in its final report this month, including the creation of a capacity development network, the establishment of a global AI fund for the Sustainable Development Goals and the development of a global data framework for local AI ecosystems.
