Paris, UNESCO is set to host a significant gathering of ministers and representatives from its 194 Member States in early February, focusing on the global governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This meeting, convened by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, aims to assess progress and discuss national regulations for AI to promote the common good.
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the forum will build on the groundwork laid by the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, which was unanimously adopted in November 2021. This landmark framework established the first global standards in AI ethics and facilitated the development of human-centered global AI governance.
Two years since the adoption of the recommendation, over 50 States have utilized UNESCO’s tools and expertise to evaluate their AI readiness and enhance their national laws and policies. The 2nd edition of the Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence will serve as a platform for these Member States to showcase their progress and ongoing projects in AI governance. The forum will also enable countries to share their regulatory best practices, aiming to prevent an AI Wild West scenario and ensure AI’s alignment with the common good.
In a significant move, around ten global private groups are expected to sign UNESCO’s Recommendation on the first day of the Forum, committing to its ethical principles. This action is part of UNESCO’s broader strategy to engage the private sector in implementing ethical practices and building trustworthy technologies.
UNESCO is also set to launch several new initiatives during the forum, including the AI Ethics Experts without Borders Network, a global network of experts to assist States and policy-makers, the Global AI Ethics Observatory, and the Women4Ethical AI platform.
This forum represents a crucial step in strengthening international cooperation and governance in the field of AI, highlighting the collective effort to ensure that AI development is aligned with ethical standards and serves the broader interests of humanity.