A United Nations report has recommended the creation of a global artificial intelligence (AI) fund aimed at helping developing nations access the benefits of AI technology. The UN has proposed an AI fund needed to help developing nations access advanced technology. The fund would assist countries by providing essential AI models, computing power, and training programs, ensuring they do not fall behind in the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence.
The UN Secretary-General’s high-level advisory body on AI has emphasized that this initiative would allow developing nations to benefit from AI advancements, which are currently dominated by wealthier countries. The proposal includes creating a storehouse of AI models and datasets to aid in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as eradicating poverty and improving access to quality education.
Warning Against Repeat of Climate Crisis Mistakes
The creation of an AI fund needed to help developing nations would support critical infrastructure and innovation. Dame Wendy Hall, a professor of computer science at the University of Southampton and a member of the UN advisory body on AI, highlighted the need for the global north to learn from past mistakes, particularly in handling the climate crisis. Hall stressed the importance of ensuring that developing nations are not left behind.
She pointed out that the lack of investment in AI by developing countries could lead to a significant disparity between wealthier and poorer regions. “Without action on a global AI fund, we risk repeating the same mistakes made in the climate crisis, where developed nations took the lead while the global south struggled to keep pace,” Hall said.
Call for Global Cooperation on AI Governance
The report also calls for the formation of an international scientific panel on AI. This body would issue yearly updates on AI’s capabilities, risks, opportunities, and uncertainties. The report warns that there is currently no universal framework to govern AI, which raises concerns about the technology being imposed on populations without their input.
The UN further recommended regular intergovernmental dialogues to address these governance issues. This would prevent the control of AI development from being concentrated in the hands of a few powerful countries or companies, ensuring a fairer global distribution of AI resources.
The report emphasizes that without proper global cooperation and a fair framework, AI’s development could widen the gap between developed and developing nations. Establishing a global AI fund could ensure that all countries, regardless of their economic status, can harness the technology to meet critical goals and advance the well-being of their populations. An accessible AI fund is needed to help developing nations so that they are not left behind in the global AI race.
Current AI Initiatives and International Agreements
Several countries and AI companies have already committed to voluntarily testing powerful AI models. Recently, the United Kingdom signed an international treaty focused on preventing AI misuse, highlighting growing concerns about the technology’s ethical and regulatory challenges.
Major tech companies have agreed to let governments vet their artificial intelligence (AI) tools before public release. This decision, announced by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, came after a summit that raised concerns about AI’s potential risks to humanity. Among those voicing these concerns was tech billionaire Elon Musk, who warned that AI could eventually replace all human jobs.
Companies such as Meta, Google DeepMind, and OpenAI have agreed to collaborate with governments to test their AI tools before they are available to the public. The goal is to ensure the technology is safe and not rushed to market, potentially posing threats to national security, public safety, or society at large.
Rishi Sunak revealed this initiative at a two-day AI safety summit at Bletchley Park. He stated that the summit’s outcomes would favor humanity. This collaboration aims to slow the rapid development of AI systems designed to compete with human intelligence.
Also read: Privacy Concerns Rise as LinkedIn Trains AI Models on User Data.
