Governments and private enterprises should contribute to a global artificial intelligence fund aimed at enabling developing nations to reap the benefits of technological advancements, as per a recent United Nations (UN) report.
The proposed fund is designed to provide models, computational resources, and training programmes related to AI, following recommendations from the UN Secretary-General’s high-level AI advisory group.
Dame Wendy Hall, professor of computer science at the University of Southampton and a member of the UN’s AI advisory body, emphasized the need to avoid repeating past mistakes made with climate change. She highlighted that developing countries should receive assistance to invest in AI technology. ‘If we don’t address an issue like a global AI fund now, we risk going down the same route as we did with climate change where developed countries are able to address the problem and race ahead while the global south is left behind and doesn’t have the capacity to address it,’ she stated.
The report calls for the creation of an accessible repository of AI models and datasets, imperative for achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals include eliminating poverty and providing quality education. Furthermore, it suggests the establishment of an international scientific panel on AI to publish annual reports on AI-related capabilities, opportunities, risks, and uncertainties.
The report warns that the absence of a global framework to govern AI could result in the technology being imposed on populations without their consent. The UN advocates for regular intergovernmental dialogues to foster consensus on managing the impact of AI.
Previously, AI companies and several states have committed to a voluntary agreement to test the most potent AI models. Additionally, the UK recently signed an international treaty aimed at preventing the misuse of AI.
The UN report underscores the unfairness of placing AI governance solely in the hands of a few developers or countries. It asserts that such a scenario could lead to inequitable outcomes, with the UN proposing to host regular intergovernmental discussions to ensure fair management of AI impacts.
In summary, the establishment of a global AI fund is crucial for ensuring that developing nations can participate in and benefit from AI advancements. The UN’s recommendations highlight the need for an equitable approach to AI governance, preventing a repeat of the disparities witnessed in past global issues such as climate change.
