Beijing, July 17 (SANA) U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday called on governments and technology companies to strengthen international cooperation to ensure that all countries benefit from Artificial Intelligence, warning that without global coordination the technology could deepen inequality instead of advancing sustainable development.
Speaking at the opening session of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Guterres described AI as “the greatest opportunity of the 21st century,” while cautioning that it could also become one of humanity’s greatest risks if not governed responsibly and inclusively, according to U.N. News.
He stressed that technologies shaping humanity’s future must be developed through broad international participation, saying AI governance should not be dominated by a small number of countries or companies and that every nation has the right to help shape its future.
Bridging the digital divide
Guterres said AI has the potential to accelerate medical breakthroughs, improve education, strengthen food systems, and create new jobs, helping advance the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. However, he warned that many developing countries risk being left behind.
He noted that one-third of the world’s population remains without internet access and said computing power, technical expertise, and AI investment are concentrated in a limited number of countries and companies, widening the global digital divide.
He added that more than 20 countries, including China, have nominated centers to join a U.N.-supported global network for AI knowledge-sharing and capacity building aimed at narrowing those gaps.
Proposal for a global AI fund
Guterres announced that he will soon present recommendations for establishing a global AI fund and outlined three priorities to ensure the technology benefits everyone: strengthening AI capacity in developing countries, establishing international safety standards, and making AI more environmentally sustainable.
He said developing countries should have the tools needed to build AI systems based on their own data, languages, and local expertise, while urging governments to adopt common approaches for testing AI systems and managing associated risks in line with international law.
Call for sustainable AI
The U.N. chief also urged leading AI companies to disclose the environmental footprint of their systems and transition their operations to renewable energy by 2030. He called on governments to incorporate clean energy requirements into their national strategies.
Guterres concluded by saying the central challenge is whether the AI-driven transformation will reduce or deepen inequality, and whether it will expand opportunities for all or concentrate power in the hands of a few.
The United Nations has stepped up its work on AI governance over the past year following the adoption of the Global Digital Compact and the establishment, with General Assembly backing, of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. Earlier this month, governments and other stakeholders met in Geneva for the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance.
MHD
