UN General Assembly

• 26 Mar 2024

On 21st March, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the first global resolution on artificial intelligence.

• Proposed by the United States and co-sponsored by China and over 120 other nations.
• Encourages countries to safeguard human rights, protect personal data, and strengthen privacy policies.
• U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, emphasizes the importance of governing AI rather than letting it govern.
• The resolution aims to address concerns about AI's potential to disrupt democratic processes, increase fraud, and lead to job losses.
• Previous initiatives by governments include international agreements to ensure AI safety and EU regulations to oversee the technology.
• Despite efforts, the polarized U.S. Congress has made little progress in AI regulation.
• The resolution, negotiated over four months, provides a baseline set of principles for AI's development and use.
• Despite differences, countries like China and Russia are also exploring the use of AI tools, raising concerns about potential misuse.