UN Secretary-General Chooses UAE Minister for AI Advisory Body

António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, has selected Omar Sultan Al Olama, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, to join the High-Level AI Advisory Body tasked with addressing global challenges, opportunities, and governance related to Artificial Intelligence. This advisory body, announced by His Excellency António Guterres, is a new international entity dedicated to fostering collaboration among stakeholders in the governance of AI in light of rapid technological advancements, with the goal of enhancing global AI governance.

The high-level Advisory Body comprises 38 distinguished individuals, including government officials, tech entrepreneurs, academics, experts, and specialists. Notable members include Carme Artigas, the Secretary of State for Digitization and Artificial Intelligence in Spain; Ian Bremmer, the President and Founder of Eurasia Group; Natasha Crampton, Chief Responsible AI Officer at Microsoft; Hiroaki Kitano, Chief Technology Officer of Sony Group; Haksoo Ko, Head of the Personal Information Protection Commission in Korea; Mira Moratti, Chief Technology Officer of Open AI; and Amandeep Singh Gill, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology.

Omar Al Olama, reflecting on this appointment, emphasized the UAE’s forward-looking approach in addressing future challenges through advanced AI solutions and international collaboration. He expressed his enthusiasm for the role, describing it as an opportunity to significantly advance international efforts in establishing a comprehensive governance framework for AI-related domains, one that leverages AI’s potential while ensuring a safe, inclusive technological future that maintains a balance between humans and machines.

Ongoing international initiatives for AI governance will receive support from the UN Advisory Body. It will aid the UN Secretary-General and member states in developing a global consensus on AI-related risks and challenges, harnessing AI for the achievement of sustainable development goals, and promoting international cooperation in AI management. The advisory body will focus on three primary areas: international AI governance, understanding AI-related risks and challenges, and the potential for AI to expedite the attainment of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).

The Advisory Body’s mission is to establish common ground by identifying priorities for governments and the private sector to better respond to the rapid advancements in AI and technology. Comprising experts from the government, private sector, and civil society, the body will engage in extensive consultations with existing and emerging initiatives and international organizations, bridging perspectives across stakeholder groups and networks.

The UN Secretary-General introduced the formation of the high-level Advisory Body in a speech before the UN Security Council in July, highlighting its multi-stakeholder approach to analyze and provide recommendations for the global governance of AI.