World’s first global AI resolution unanimously adopted by United Nations
The United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the first global resolution on AI, aiming to protect personal data, enhance privacy policies, monitor AI for potential risks, and uphold human rights.
The resolution emerged from a proposal by the United States and received support from China and 121 other countries.
The nonbinding agreement is broadly popular in the AI industry, as it is seen as toothless but still important for establishing international guardrails for ethical AI development.
Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith expressed full support for the UN’s adoption of the comprehensive AI resolution, emphasizing the critical step it represents.
The resolution, titled “Seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development,” resulted from three months of negotiation and is seen as a significant achievement in international cooperation.
Adoption by consensus in the UN means that all members agree to adopt the resolution without a vote, even if they may have reservations about certain parts of the text.
The initiative is part of a series of efforts by governments worldwide to influence the trajectory of AI development, addressing concerns about the potential negative impact of AI on democratic processes, fraudulent activities, and job displacement.
Resistance from nations such as Russia and China was anticipated during the negotiation process, but successful engagement led to a draft resolution that balanced development and safeguarding human rights.
The UN agreement is the first “global” agreement with the participation of every UN country, but it wasn’t the first multi-state international AI agreement, as the Bletchley Declaration preceded it.
Various countries, including the US, UK, and European nations, have unveiled agreements and provisional regulations focusing on secure and ethical AI development, while the US government is still working to achieve consensus on legislative action related to AI regulation.
