AI must never stand for 'advancing inequality,' says UN chief

GENEVA

The secretary-general of the UN urged countries on Wednesday to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) "never stands for advancing inequality."

In his remarks to the Council of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Geneva, Antonio Guterres warned that innovation was outpacing the capacity to regulate it.

"We must join forces to ensure AI never stands for advancing inequality. Such a unique challenge requires unique solutions. We have no time to waste," he warned and added: "We need to break silos and be inventive."

He stressed that developing countries need technical assistance and investments in areas like data, computing power and talent to fully participate in and benefit from the AI revolution.

"ITU’s work to build capacity in developing countries ... is an important part of our efforts to prevent a new AI divide that would only aggravate existing inequalities," he said.

Noting that the world faces "a digital divide, a data divide, an investment divide and a governance divide," he said states need to work together to build bridges, pointing to the upcoming Summit of the Future event this September as a "key opportunity" to do so.

"We aim to agree on a Global Digital Compact to update and upgrade digital cooperation," he said.

"I am encouraged by the growing momentum towards an ambitious Global Digital Compact that aims to connect the unconnected and put an end to digital exclusion in all its forms; chart a course for a safe and inclusive AI that puts people at the center and protects human rights; and channel innovation to accelerate progress on the sustainable development goals and protect our planet," said Guterres.