Artificial intelligence is developing so rapidly that many workers, companies, and nations are finding it difficult to keep pace. As the role of technology expands across various fields, international organizations are working to catch up to regulate AI, yet the United Nations is unenthusiastic about establishing a new international agency to govern the field.
At the Fortune Global Forum held this Monday in New York City, Carme Artigas, co-chair of the UN Artificial Intelligence Advisory Board, explained that the organization is working on developing guidelines for the global use of AI, including a proposal to establish a scientific panel focused on artificial intelligence and a global fund to support it.
Why doesn’t the UN support creating an international AI agency?
Artigas asserts that there are already numerous treaties and guidelines that shape the general approach of UN member states toward AI regulation. She believes that creating a new body would require a massive reorganization of the international system, which may not be necessary.
She explains: “We don’t need to invent something new regarding the impacts of AI in defense, because we already have the Geneva Convention.” She added, “If we want to talk about intellectual property rights, we have the World Intellectual Property Organization.”
Challenges of inequality in AI adoption
Nevertheless, Artigas acknowledges a significant gap between different countries and regions of the world when it comes to AI adoption, and this gap could lead to widening global inequalities if it is not bridged. She emphasized that the impacts of AI extend to “the fundamental values and principles of human rights right now.”
While the United Nations continues to develop guidelines for the safe and responsible use of AI, its vision remains rooted in supporting existing initiatives and international treaties rather than creating a new international entity. Artigas believes the solution lies in coordinating among pre-existing organizations and developing ways to support countries facing challenges in keeping pace with rapid developments in this field.
