(AFP)
The UN General Assembly on Tuesday created an artificial intelligence advisory body to help countries make decisions about the revolutionary technology.
Member states said they were concerned about the swift development of a life-changing tool they fear could threaten democracy and human rights.
So in September United Nations member states agreed to form an expert-level panel of scientists to facilitate dialogue among governments about AI.
In a resolution approved Tuesday, the General Assembly created what is called the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence.
Among other activities it will "issue evidence-based scientific assessments synthesizing and analysing existing research related to the opportunities, risks and impacts of artificial intelligence."
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will now seek people to serve on the 40-member body for a three-year stint.
The resolution also foresees what it calls an annual global dialogue among governments and other stake-holders on artificial intelligence governance.
These parties will discuss international cooperation, share best practices and lessons learned, and talk about AI governance so as to help the world achieve UN global development goals, among other objectives, the text states.
The first of these dialogue sessions will take place in Geneva next year at a world summit on AI.
"The development of artificial intelligence is advancing at a pace and scale that means it affects all states and countries across the globe," said Costa Rican ambassador Maritza Chan Valverde, who oversaw the discussions leading to the new resolution along with her counterpart from Spain.
"With this resolution, the United Nations reaffirms its central role in guaranteeing that AI will serve humanity," she added.
Guterres welcomed the General Assembly’s decision to establish two new mechanisms within the UN to promote international cooperation on AI governance.
In a statement by the spokesman for the UN Chief, the international organisation said that the establishment of the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance marks a significant step forward in global efforts to harness the benefits of artificial intelligence while addressing its risks.
The statement said, “This pathbreaking milestone underlines Member States’ commitment to build on the Global Digital Compact adopted as part of the Pact for the Future in September 2024.
"The Secretary-General will shortly be launching an open call for nominations for the Scientific Panel, which will present its annual reports at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance to take place in July 2026 in Geneva and 2027 in New York.
"The Secretary-General calls on all stakeholders to support this historic initiative and contribute to building a future where artificial intelligence serves the common good of all humanity."
