AI Has Potential to Rescue SDGs: UN Chief

By Deepak Arora

SHANGHAI, Sept 3: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to help rescue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and usher in a more durable and equitable future. Recent research estimates that AI can help accelerate nearly 80 per cent of the SDGs.

Yet, he said “we face a stark reality: AI opportunities are not evenly shared. AI capacities today are concentrated in a handful of powerful companies – and even fewer countries. However, too many countries face significant challenges in accessing AI tools.”

Thanking the Chinese Government for organizing this workshop on Artificial Intelligence and capacity building, the Secretary General said “We stand at a pivotal moment. Artificial Intelligence is developing at warp speed, transforming our world in ways we are only beginning to comprehend.”

To truly harness AI’s potential,; António Guterrese said “we need international cooperation – and solidarity. And we must urgently bridge the AI gap for developing countries. The risks posed by AI are equally uneven.”

The Secretary-General said without adequate guardrails, AI could further exacerbate inequalities and digital divides and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable. “We must seize this historic opportunity to lay the foundations for inclusive governance of AI – for the benefit of all humanity.”

António Guterres said Governments are currently negotiating a Global Digital Compact to be adopted this month – at the United Nations Summit of the Future in New York. He said that the proposed Compact includes new proposals on AI governance and capacity building.

The Secretary-General said his High-level Advisory Body on AI would also issue its final report this month, with a series of recommendations including: Creating an AI Capacity Development Network that will connect AI centres and provide expertise and training data especially for developing countries; Establishing a Global Fund on AI for the Sustainable Development Goals; and developing a Global Data Framework, so that local AI ecosystems can flourish.

In conclusion, António Guterres hoped for the engagement and support of all stakeholders.