Mehdi Snène
AI and Digital Transformation Senior Advisor, Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology
Major efforts are underway to establish robust governance and ethical mechanisms, safety measures and national/cross-national artificial intelligence (AI) strategies.
Initiatives to establish AI governance are unified by Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative, which emphasises universal moral principles. Applied to AI, this principle highlights the need for global standards, ensuring uniform ethical guidelines as AI technologies impact various aspects of human life.
Addressing dilemmas through AI governance
The Collingridge dilemma, which posits that a technology’s consequences are most uncertain when it is still malleable and controllable, highlights the critical juncture at which AI development currently stands. International cooperation is imperative at this crossroads to shape AI’s trajectory for maximum benefit and minimal risk.
AI’s rapid development poses a moving target for regulators and ethicists. Governance must match the dynamism of the technology itself. As AI matures, its societal and economic impacts complicate regulation efforts.
Practices and infrastructures may become so entrenched that modifying them grows increasingly difficult and costly. This dilemma amplifies the need for a global AI governance framework beyond local or national policies.
Flexible framework of trust and cooperation
As AI’s influence transcends borders, international cooperation is essential. Its rapid evolution often surpasses policy development, risking outdated regulatory frameworks. Therefore, fostering dynamic global governance is crucial for managing AI’s global impact responsibly and ensuring its beneficial development.
In this rapidly evolving landscape, governance should shift from rigid, prescriptive mechanisms to a flexible framework of trust and cooperation within the international AI community. This approach involves not only setting initial guidelines but also continuously engaging diverse stakeholders in discussions about future directions and implications of AI developments. The aim is to build and maintain a trusted consensus that supports adaptive and informed decision-making, ensuring governance strategies evolve alongside AI.
As AI’s influence transcends borders, international cooperation is essential.
Trust-based governance for equitable AI
Establishing trust in the consensus is crucial for effective governance and for ensuring that AI benefits are distributed equitably. Trust-based governance can facilitate transparent sharing of information and best practices, reduce competitive tensions and help set a common ethical baseline that respects all stakeholders’ interests. By fostering an environment where every global community member can contribute to AI’s trajectory, we enhance the likelihood of universally fair and beneficial AI development.
UN leads global AI governance
We have a unique opportunity to build global governance and enable a trusted consensus, and the United Nations’ efforts, including the Secretary-General’s High-level AI Advisory Body, are essential steps towards this development. The UN’s upcoming Summit of the Future this September will be pivotal for advancing the necessity of collaborative international frameworks to harness AI’s transformative power for the global good. This Summit is crucial for cementing our collective commitment to responsible AI governance, ensuring that advancements benefit all humanity.
