They propose a global pact to control artificial intelligence

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday proposed a global deal to manage digital technologies, including rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), which the organization warns could bring threats that are difficult to control.

Guterres, who in 2021 put on the table the idea of ​​Fr Global Digital Compact who has previously advocated promoting regulation of artificial intelligence, today detailed his ideas for how to do so in a 30-page document.

It is the intention of the United Nations that governments, the private sector and civil society can adopt this major agreement in September 2024, during the so-called Future Summit convened by the organization.

Although the Global Digital Pact proposed by Guterres is very broad, one of its most prominent axes is artificial intelligence, especially after the rapid progress seen in recent months.

“We are beginning to understand the extent of its destructive potential, positive and negativebut we still need to come together to consider the problems and cooperate in identifying risks and agile ways to mitigate them,” explains the Portuguese diplomat.

In a speech on Monday, Guterres stressed that “a digital threshold has recently been crossed, with the widespread use of generative artificial intelligence in the form of ChatGPT and many other applications,” a technology that will have a big impact, but it is not clear it will be good.

“The prospect of further technological progress now often inspires more fear than hope. Even those who have developed artificial intelligence and would benefit most from it have expressed deep concern and called, even begged, for action to manage it,” he stressed.

Human-driven AI should be held accountable

Guterres considers it necessary to ensure that the design and use of artificial intelligence is transparent, secure and under the control of people who can be held accountable, so he is committed to combining international guidelines and standards, national regulatory frameworks and technical standards in a framework that facilitates the agile management of these new technologies.

The recipes he proposes generally seek cooperation between government and industry and avoid laws and regulations.

Therefore, among the actions it proposes are the urgent launch of research work with companies to ensure that artificial intelligence systems are safe and aligned with human values, or the establishment of a high-level advisory group with experts. address these issues regularly.

In addition, it calls on governments to agree with the industry on some guidelines that guide the development of artificial intelligence o Commit to strengthening transparency and involve human rights and ethics teams in this work.

Finally, Guterres calls for consideration of bans on the use of technological applications whose potential or effect cannot be justified by international human rights law, although he does not specify which ones.

For years, the Secretary General has been warning, for example, about the risk posed by so-called autonomous weapons, military systems guided by artificial intelligence that can make their own decisions when attacking.