AI for Good blog

From Principles to Implementation – pathways forward

AI Governance

by Haythem Abdelkefi

Discover the full AI Governance Day 2024 Report – From Principles to Implementation here.

Panelists: 

  • Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), co-chair of the United Nations Interagency Working Group on AI 
  • Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), co-chair of the United Nations Interagency Working Group on AI 

The session “From Principles to Implementation – Pathways Forward” featured speakers Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas and Ms. Gabriela Ramos discussing the significant rise in generative AI and the accompanying regulatory and governance challenges faced by policymakers worldwide.  

Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas emphasized the UN’s response to AI advancements, noting that ITU has a long history of developing AI standards in various sectors such as disaster management, health, autonomous driving, and agriculture, many of which have been developed in collaboration with UN partner agencies.  

“We provide the platform for all of us to come together, and this AI for Good Summit is an example of that. This Summit didn’t start last year; it started seven years ago, and it’s always useful to remember that. Seven years ago, it started as a solution Summit, it started to think, discuss, and agree on how we use AI to progress forward, to propel it. Of course, since then we’ve gotten a little bit more fearful of AI; we are now much more afraid of it than we were then. So now we discuss how to really put the right guardrails, how to safeguard it. But even in that regard, we also have work that has been done.” (Tomas Lamanauskas) 

Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), co-chair of the United Nations Interagency Working Group on AI

A comprehensive White Paper, the “United Nations System White Paper on AI Governance: An analysis of the UN system’s institutional models, functions, and existing international normative frameworks applicable to AI governance”, was published in May 2024. The White Paper was prepared by the Inter-Agency Working Group on Artificial Intelligence, under the leadership of UNESCO and ITU, and endorsed by the Chief Executive Board for Coordination (CEB) of the United Nations, comprising the Executive Heads of the United Nations. 

Ms. Gabriela Ramos discussed the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach and the integration of AI across various sectors. She praised the efforts of WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, and FAO in using AI for health, education, children’s well-being, and food systems. She highlighted UNESCO’s Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), which helps countries advance their AI governance and has been implemented in around 50 countries. Additionally, UNESCO achieved a global consensus on AI ethics, signed by 194 countries, focusing on human rights and dignity. 

The speakers stressed the practical implementation and capacity development needed for effective AI governance. Mr. Tomas noted that ITU has 220 technical standards for AI and is working on interoperability, regulatory approaches, and combating deep fakes and misinformation. New initiatives like the AI for Good Impact and a flagship report aim to share knowledge and assist developing countries. 

Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas and Ms. Gabriela Ramos underscored the importance of creating and implementing responsible AI frameworks and ensuring global governance keeps pace with technology. They encouraged continued multi-stakeholder discussions and the use of the UN’s AI governance paper as a resource. The AI for Good Summit reflects the best of UN traditions and innovation, involving a diverse global community ready to tackle AI challenges and opportunities together. 

 “AI for Good […] brings us together with all the international institutions and adopts a multi-stakeholder approach, which is very important.” (Gabriela Ramos) 

Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), co-chair of the United Nations Interagency Working Group on AI 

Cover page of the United Nations system White Paper on AI Governance, produced by the Inter-Agency Working Group on AI, available at https://unsceb.org/united-nations-system-white-paper-ai-governance  

Watch the full session:

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