AI & Digital Divide: UN Embraces Key Resolutions

Published Date: 04/07/2024

The United Nations has taken a significant step towards ensuring equal access to artificial intelligence, bridging the gap between developed and developing nations.

In a landmark move, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted two resolutions on artificial intelligence, sponsored by China and the United States, respectively. The resolutions aim to ensure that AI is developed and used in a safe, secure, and trustworthy manner, benefiting all nations and people.

The Chinese-sponsored resolution, adopted on Monday, focuses on capacity building and bridging the widening gap between developed and developing countries in AI technology. The resolution, which had over 140 sponsors, calls on the international community to provide a fair, open, inclusive, and nondiscriminatory business environment for AI's design, development, and use.

The U.S.-sponsored resolution, adopted in March, gave global support to the international effort to ensure that AI is safe, secure, and trustworthy. The resolution recognized the evolving nature of AI governance and called for further discussions on possible governance approaches.

Both resolutions demonstrate the commitment of the United States and China, rival nations in many areas, to cooperate on shaping the future of AI. The adoption of the resolutions by consensus by the 193-member General Assembly shows widespread global support for their leadership on the issue.

According to Fu Cong, China's U.N. ambassador, the two resolutions are complementary, with the U.S. measure being more general and the Chinese resolution focusing on capacity building. He expressed appreciation for the positive role played by the U.S. in the process.

Nate Evans, spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations, stated that the Chinese-sponsored resolution furthered the vision and approach set out by the U.S. in March. The U.S. worked diligently with developing and developed countries to strengthen the text, ensuring it reaffirmed safe, secure, and trustworthy AI that respects human rights, commits to digital inclusion, and advances sustainable development.

The adoption of the resolutions marks an important step towards ensuring that AI benefits all nations and people. The Chinese ambassador emphasized the need for intensified cooperation on the issue, which has far-reaching implications for economic development, lives, and the future of humanity.

However, Fu strongly criticized the U.S. Treasury Department's proposed rule to restrict and monitor U.S. investments in China for AI, computer chips, and quantum computing. China firmly opposes these sanctions, believing they will divide the world in terms of standards and rules governing AI.

Both resolutions focus on the civilian applications of AI, but the Chinese ambassador acknowledged the importance of addressing the military dimension of AI. China is actively participating in negotiations in Geneva on controlling lethal autonomous weapons and supports a U.N. General Assembly resolution on the military dimension of AI.

The U.N. resolutions on AI mark a significant step towards promoting international cooperation, bridging the digital divide, and ensuring that AI is developed and used for the benefit of all humankind.

FAQs:

Q: What is the main objective of the U.N. resolutions on artificial intelligence?

A: The main objective is to ensure that AI is developed and used in a safe, secure, and trustworthy manner, benefiting all nations and people.

Q: What is the focus of the Chinese-sponsored resolution?

A: The resolution focuses on capacity building and bridging the widening gap between developed and developing countries in AI technology.

Q: What is the U.S. position on the Chinese-sponsored resolution?

A: The U.S. worked diligently with developing and developed countries to strengthen the text, ensuring it reaffirmed safe, secure, and trustworthy AI.

Q: What is the criticism of the U.S. Treasury Department's proposed rule on AI investments in China?

A: China opposes the sanctions, believing they will divide the world in terms of standards and rules governing AI.

Q: What is the significance of the U.N. resolutions on AI?

A: The resolutions mark a significant step towards promoting international cooperation, bridging the digital divide, and ensuring that AI is developed and used for the benefit of all humankind.

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