“What is artificial intelligence? There is no universal definition of artificial intelligence (AI). AI is generally considered to be a discipline of computer science that is aimed at developing machines and systems that can carry out tasks considered to require human intelligence. Machine learning and deep learning are two subsets of AI. In recent years, with the development of new neural networks techniques and hardware, AI is usually perceived as a synonym for “deep supervised machine learning”.”
WIPO Website on Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property
“AI brings enormous benefits to the digital era, but it can also significantly compromise the safety and agency of users worldwide. Enhanced multi-stakeholder efforts on global AI cooperation are needed to help build global capacity for the development and use of AI in a manner that is trustworthy, human rights-based, safe and sustainable, and promotes peace.”
“We need a global, multidisciplinary conversation in order to examine, assess and align the application of AI and other emerging technologies. Over 100 sets of ethical AI principles have been developed by different stakeholders, and they share many common ideas, including the need for AI applications to be reliable, transparent, accountable, overseen by humans and capable of being shut down. Different stakeholders are adapting existing frameworks or developing new ones for risk management and redress. They need to be harmonized and effective across borders. Industry self-regulation is not enough. We need to bring stakeholders together in a meaningful effort to consider the implications of emerging technologies and ensure that they align with universal human rights and values before their widespread application in our societies, economies, militaries and politics.”
UN Entities
- UN AI Actions
https://aiforgood.itu.int/about-ai-for-good/un-ai-actions/
AI for Good is organized in partnership with 40 UN sister agencies who actively participate and shape our programming by sharing valuable expertise and collaborating on joint sessions. - UN Inter-Agency Working Group on AI (IAWG-AI)
https://unsceb.org/topics/artificial-intelligence - UN News Centre on “Artificial Intelligence”:
https://news.un.org/en/tags/artificial-intelligence - United Nations. Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology https://www.un.org/techenvoy/
https://www.un.org/techenvoy/content/artificial-intelligence - International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/AI/Pages/default.aspx - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- Artificial Intelligence: https://www.unesco.org/en/artificial-intelligence
- Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: https://www.unesco.org/en/artificial-intelligence/recommendation-ethics
- UNESCO: Governments must quickly regulate Generative AI in schools (7 September 2023): https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-governments-must-quickly-regulate-generative-ai-schools
- Global Initiative on AI for Health
- New UN initiative aims to step up AI’s contribution to health (ITU Press Release, 25 July 2023): https://www.itu.int/hub/2023/07/new-un-initiative-aims-to-step-up-ais-contribution-to-health/
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- The IAEA’s platform for partnership on AI: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/ai4atoms/SitePages/Home.aspx
- International Civil Aviation Agency (ICAO)
https://www.icao.int/safety/Pages/Artificial-Intelligence-(AI).aspx - International Labour Organization (ILO)
- Generative AI likely to augment rather than destroy jobs: ILO report assesses the impact of generative artificial intelligence on job quantity and quality (21 August 2023): https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_890740/lang–en/index.htm
- Podcast – Artificial Intelligence and the world of work – should we be scared? (28 April 2023): https://voices.ilo.org/podcast/artificial-intelligence-and-the-world-of-work–should-we-be-scared
- United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs (ODA)
- ODA and SIPRI launch initiative on responsible innovation in AI for peace and security (4 April 2023): https://disarmament.unoda.org/update/oda-and-sipri-launch-initiative-on-responsible-innovation-in-ai-for-peace-and-security/
- Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
- OHCHR and privacy in the digital age: https://www.ohchr.org/en/privacy-in-the-digital-age
- Hub for Human Rights and Digital Technology: https://www.digitalhub.ohchr.org/artificialintelligence
- United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
- AI & Cities: Risks, Applications and Governance: https://unhabitat.org/ai-cities-risks-applications-and-governance
- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
- Podcast – The rise of the machines: What does AI mean for our jobs, privacy and humanity? (15 June 2023): https://unctad.org/podcast/rise-machines-what-does-ai-mean-our-jobs-privacy-and-humanity
- How artificial intelligence chatbots could affect jobs (18 January 2023): https://unctad.org/news/blog-how-artificial-intelligence-chatbots-could-affect-jobs
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- SDG AI Lab – Harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development: https://sdgailab.org/
- Artificial intelligence/Machine learning: https://www.undp.org/tag/artificial-intelligence/machine-learning
- Making AI work for us: Ethical and responsible artificial intelligence is an accelerator for sustainable development (29 August 2023): https://feature.undp.org/making-ai-work-for-us/
- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
- UNECE and partners to develop AI-powered platform to help build resilient energy systems (18 September 2023): https://unece.org/media/press/382688
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- How artificial intelligence is helping tackle environmental challenges (7 November 2022): https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/how-artificial-intelligence-helping-tackle-environmental-challenges
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- Data Innovation: https://www.unhcr.org/innovation/data-innovation/
- United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
- Generation AI: Engaging stakeholders to build AI powered solutions that help realize and uphold child rights: https://www.unicef.org/innovation/GenerationAI
- United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)
- Security through Research, Technology and Innovation: https://unicri.it/security-through-research-technology-and-innovation
- UNICRI Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (The Hague, The Netherlands)
http://www.unicri.it/news/article/Launch_Centre_AI_Robotics
http://www.unicri.it/in_focus/on/UNICRI_Centre_Artificial_Robotics - United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
- UNIDIR Artificial Intelligence Policy Portal: https://aipolicyportal.org/
- United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
- UNIDO launches Global Alliance on AI for Industry and Manufacturing (AIM-Global) at World AI Conference 2023 (7 July 2023): https://www.unido.org/news/unido-launches-global-alliance-ai-industry-and-manufacturing-aim-global-world-ai-conference-2023
- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
- The Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence: https://www.unodc.org/ji/en/knowledge-products/artificial-intelligence.html
- United Nations University (UNU)
https://unu.edu/topics/artificial-intelligence- UNU Launches a New Series of Webinar – Conversational Series: An Indepth Exploration into ChatGPT and Generative AI (7 August 2023): https://unu.edu/macau/news/unu-launches-new-series-webinar-conversational-series-indepth-exploration-chatgpt-and
- World Food Programme (WFP)
- Innovation Accelerator: https://innovation.wfp.org/
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Big data and artificial intelligence: https://www.who.int/teams/health-ethics-governance/emerging-technologies/big-data-and-artificial-intelligence
- WHO calls for safe and ethical AI for health (16 May 2023): https://www.who.int/news/item/16-05-2023-who-calls-for-safe-and-ethical-ai-for-health
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property: https://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/frontier_technologies/ai_and_ip.html
- World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
- Big Tech and Artificial Intelligence can support Early Warnings for All (31 May 2023): https://public.wmo.int/en/media/news/big-tech-and-artificial-intelligence-can-support-early-warnings-all
- Exploring the possibilities of Artificial Intelligence in the areas of water, weather and climate (30 May 2023): https://community.wmo.int/en/news/exploring-possibilities-artificial-intelligence-areas-water-weather-and-climate
- Artificial intelligence can boost disaster management (12 February 2021): https://public.wmo.int/en/media/news/artificial-intelligence-can-boost-disaster-management
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
- Digital technologies and trade: https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/reser_e/digitaltech_e.htm
UN Events & Conferences
- Security Council, 9381st meeting, 18 July 2023: “Artificial intelligence: opportunities and risks for international peace and security”
- Webcast: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1j/k1ji81po8p
- Press Release: https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15359.doc.htm
- UN News Centre Story: https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/07/1138827
- Concept Note: https://undocs.org/S/2023/528
- Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality — Used Responsibly — Can Help Peacebuilding Efforts (Politically Speaking, 17 July 2023): https://bit.ly/43InFca
- AI For Good Global Summit 2023 — 6-7 July 2023, Geneva, Switzerland: https://aiforgood.itu.int/summit23/
- Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence — 13 December 2022, Prague, Czech Republic: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/first-global-forum-ethics-ai-held-prague-one-year-after-adoption-unescos-recommendation
- UNESCO International Forum on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Education — 5-6 December 2022: https://aiedforum.org
Selected Publications & Documents
- Guidance for generative AI in education and research (UNESCO, September 2023): https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000386693
- The Use of Synthetic Data to Train AI Models: Opportunities and Risks for Sustainable Development (UNU Policy Brief, September 2023): https://unu.edu/publication/use-synthetic-data-train-ai-models-opportunities-and-risks-sustainable-development
- Toolkit for Responsible AI Innovation in Law Enforcement (UNICRI and INTERPOL, June 2023): https://unicri.it/Publication/Toolkit-for-Responsible-AI-Innovation-in-Law-Enforcement-UNICRI-INTERPOL
- Our Common Agenda – Policy Brief 5: A Global Digital Compact – An Open, Free and Secure Digital Future for All (May 2023): https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/our-common-agenda-policy-brief-gobal-digi-compact-en.pdf
- Reporting on artificial intelligence: a handbook for journalism educators (UNESCO, 2023): https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000384551
- Open data for AI: what now? (UNESCO, 2023): https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000385841
- Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (UNESCO, 2022): https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381137
- 2022 United Nations Activities on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Report: https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/opb/gen/S-GEN-UNACT-2022-PDF-E.pdf
- Inside AI: An Algorithmic Adventure (UNESCO’s first graphic novel on Artificial Intelligence, 2022): https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/inside-ai-algorithmic-adventure
- Multistakeholder AI development: 10 building blocks for inclusive policy design (UNESCO, 2022): https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/multistakeholder-ai-development
- The Effects of AI on the Working Lives of Women (UNESCO/OECD/IDB, 2022): https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/effects-ai-working-lives-women
- Artificial intelligence and digital transformation: competencies for civil servants (UNESCO, 2022): https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/artificial-intelligence-and-digital-transformation
- Ageism in artificial intelligence for health (WHO Policy Brief, 9 February 2022): https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240040793
- Policy guidance on AI for children (UNICEF, November 2021): https://www.unicef.org/globalinsight/reports/policy-guidance-ai-children
- The right to privacy in the digital age: Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HRC/48/31, 13 September 2021): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/48/31
In this report, mandated by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 42/15, the High Commissioner analyses how the widespread use by States and businesses of artificial intelligence, including profiling, automated decision-making and machine-learning technologies, affects the enjoyment of the right to privacy and associated rights - Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health (WHO guidance, 28 June 2021): https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240029200
- Resource Guide on Artificial Intelligence Strategies (April 2021): https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/opb/gen/S-GEN-UNACT-2022-PDF-E.pdf
- From Digital Promise to Frontline Practice: New and Emerging Technologies in Humanitarian Action (OCHA, April 2021): https://www.unocha.org/sites/unocha/files/OCHA%20Technology%20Report.pdf
- Artificial intelligence and privacy, and children’s privacy: report of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy, Joseph A. Cannataci (A/HRC/46/37, 25 January 2021): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/46/37
- Report of the High-level Committee on Programmes on its virtual consultation on the ethics of artificial intelligence (CEB/2020/6/Add.1, 21 August 2020): https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3895564
- The militarization of artificial intelligence (August 2019): https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3972613
18 September 2023
not an official document – for information only
https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-artificial-intelligence/