In its document for the year 2024 entitled "What We Talk About When We Talk About Artificial Intelligence ", UNESCO addresses the challenges and opportunities that artificial intelligence (AI) offers in today’s context. The report, published by the UNESCO Regional Office in Montevideo, describes how AI has become a ubiquitous technology that is transforming numerous areas of human life, from the economy to culture, education and justice.
AI is no longer a concept limited to science fiction, but now has a direct impact on everyday life. It can be found in everyday applications such as recommendation systems on entertainment and shopping platforms, in medical diagnoses and in the automation of industrial processes. However, its rapid rise has sparked debates about ethical risks, such as the fairness of its development and use, and how its advances could affect fundamental human rights.
One of the central points of the report is the rapid progress of AI, which has caused both excitement and concern. AI is described as a technology capable of solving complex problems, but one that also poses significant challenges in terms of privacy, data use and the potential perpetuation of bias. Recognizing these challenges, UNESCO adopted the 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, which aims to ensure that the development of AI respects human rights and promotes the common good.
Impact of AI
The report highlights that AI is driving a global transformation that is reshaping industries and the way people interact with technology. In Latin America and the Caribbean, this technological revolution represents an opportunity for sustainable development, but also requires countries to adopt public policies that include ethical and equitable approaches. It is important that the countries of the region do not just become passive users of AI, but actively participate in its development and take advantage of its creativity and diversity.
An important aspect of the document is the distinction between different types of AI: data-driven AI and knowledge-based AI. The former, which is predominant today, relies on processing large amounts of data to recognize patterns and make predictions. However, this approach has its limitations, such as its dependence on data quality and the risk of reproducing pre-existing biases.
On the other hand, knowledge-based AI attempts to model human reasoning by formalizing concepts and rules. Although this approach is more advanced in some respects, it faces challenges such as high computer complexity and the need for human experts to feed the systems.
The report also points to the ethical limitations of AI, noting that no system is completely neutral. Biases in the data or in the design of the algorithms can lead to unfair or discriminatory results. UNESCO emphasizes the need to create an ethical framework that regulates the use of AI and ensures that it is applied fairly and transparently.
Ethical and fair AI
UNESCO proposes a global approach to the development of AI that promotes fairness and respects human rights. This approach is based on three pillars: People, Planet and Prosperity. It is crucial that AI is developed inclusively so that the social divide does not widen and the benefits of this technology are shared across society without anyone being left behind.
To achieve this, public policy must promote research and development in the field of AI and create a regulatory framework to oversee its implementation. In addition, it is important to invest in the training of professionals who can contribute to AI development and reflect the values and needs of the region.
