12 January 2024, New York – European Union Statement delivered by Axel de la Maisonneuve, ECOSOC Ambassador and Head of Sustainable Development at the EU Delegation to the UN, at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly: Presentation of the UN Secretary-General’s AI Advisory Body Interim Report – Governing AI for Humanity
Many thanks for giving me the floor. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the EU and its MS.
We are at a critical juncture in our global engagement with Artificial Intelligence and its governance. The European Union has long advocated the good governance of AI for the benefit of all and has just agreed on a regulatory framework on AI. We acknowledge the timeliness of the United Nations Secretary-General’s AI Advisory Body’s interim report, “Governing AI for Humanity”, and would like to underscore the importance of this period in shaping AI’s role and oversight on a global scale.
We commend the AI Advisory Body for their significant effort and dedication in issuing this comprehensive report within a notably ambitious timeframe. Their hard work stands as a testament to the urgency and importance of this matter.
The report’s call for a closer alignment between international law, in particular human rights law and the development and deployment of AI resonates deeply with the European Union’s commitment to create a global level playing field for harnessing AI´s opportunities whilst promoting a responsible and trustworthy AI . Many of the proposed suggestions to strengthen international governance of AI could have a noteworthy impact towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. They also have a potential to complement or build on already existing international efforts to govern AI, among them UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. The report rightly mentions that the consequences of failing to take advantage of and share the benefits of AI technologies must also be considered when designing frameworks for governance of AI.
We particularly appreciate the report’s emphasis on realising the many opportunities of AI and enhancing accountability and inclusive governance of AI for all and in the public interest. This vision is closely linked to the emerging concept of digital humanism, which stands for the empowerment of individuals, influencing the complex interplay between digital technology and human beings.
We strongly believe that a multistakeholder and evidence-based approach will generate better results in the global AI ecosystem and will promote responsible AI innovation. It is our concern that the recent discourse on AI governance has favored only limited views and we emphasize the utmost importance of including all voices, particularly those that have not been heard. We support the report’s recommendation that in considering new institutional arrangements for global governance of AI, we should begin with a thorough analysis of possible guiding principles and functions before proposing solutions.
To provide a foundation for international consensus on AI governance, we request the AI High Level Advisory Body to further clarify contentious terminology and define a common understanding of such themes like “systemic risks” and “existential threats“.
The European Union will thoroughly study the contents of the report. We look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue and collaborative efforts with international partners through all relevant UN processes, including the upcoming Global Digital Compact negotiation and the Summit of the Future. The European Union remains committed to shaping a future where the development and use of AI is safe, trustworthy and fundamental-rights based, serves humanity, and fosters global cooperation in line with international law, including international human rights law.
Source – Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in New York