UN Calls for Global AI Cooperation to Tackle Inequality

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for international cooperation to harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) while warning of its risks. Speaking at a workshop on AI and capacity-building in Shanghai, Guterres emphasized the need for global collaboration to prevent AI from exacerbating inequalities, particularly in developing nations.

Guterres highlighted the uneven distribution of AI technology and its potential impact on global inequalities. “The risks posed by AI are equally uneven. Without adequate guardrails, AI could further exacerbate inequalities and digital divides and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable,” he stated. He stressed the importance of inclusive AI governance to ensure that all of humanity benefits from this transformative technology.

AI’s potential to accelerate progress on nearly 80% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was also noted by Guterres. However, he warned that access to AI technology is concentrated in a few countries and companies, leaving many nations struggling to keep pace. “To truly harness AI’s potential, we need international cooperation — and solidarity. And we must urgently bridge the AI gap for developing countries,” he urged.

Guterres called for the development of shared knowledge and digital public goods, emphasizing the need for networks where AI expertise and training data are accessible to all. He noted that governments are currently negotiating a Global Digital Compact, which will include new proposals on AI governance and capacity-building, to be adopted at the United Nations Summit of the Future in New York.

In conclusion, Guterres mentioned the upcoming report from his High-level Advisory Body on AI, which will offer recommendations including the creation of an AI Capacity Development Network, the establishment of a Global Fund on AI for the SDGs, and the development of a Global Data Framework to support local AI ecosystems, particularly in developing countries.

This call to action underscores the critical need for global cooperation to ensure that AI serves as a tool for progress and equality, rather than deepening existing divides.