UN’s High-Level AI Advisory Body: Pioneering Inclusive Governance for Global AI Ethics

• The United Nations Secretary-General is leading a High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to harness AI’s potential for humanity while addressing its associated risks.
• The initiative brings together 38 global experts from government, private sector, and civil society to discuss AI governance, aiming for a globally inclusive ethos and alignment with human rights and Sustainable Development Goals.

The United Nations Secretary-General spearheads a pioneering initiative, assembling a multi-stakeholder High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence (AI). This initiative aims to harness the potential of AI for the betterment of humanity while addressing the accompanying risks and uncertainties that come with the proliferation of AI technologies globally. The comprehensive approach fosters a globally inclusive ethos by analyzing and advancing recommendations for AI’s international governance.

Fostering Inclusive Discourse on AI Governance

The Advisory Body is set to consist of up to 38 experts from various global disciplines, drawing from government, private sector, and civil society. Each expert brings a diverse perspective on AI governance, encouraging extensive engagement with existing and emerging initiatives and international organizations. This inclusive approach bridges diverse stakeholder groups, ensuring a comprehensive discourse on AI governance.

The UN is rallying support for the Advisory Body’s operations and Secretariat, nested within the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology (OSET). By encouraging stakeholder cooperation, contributors support better-governed AI on a global scale amidst emerging technical breakthroughs.

At the helm of this body are Co-Chairs Carme Artigas, Secretary of State for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence of Spain, and James Manyika, Senior Vice President of Google-Alphabet. The diverse composition of members includes figures such as Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence of the United Arab Emirates; Anna Abramova, Director of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)-University AI Centre; and Mira Murati, Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI.

The Advisory Body aims to align international AI governance with human rights and Sustainable Development Goals, fostering interdisciplinary expertise. This initiative signifies the UN’s commitment to navigating the complexities of AI governance within a rapidly evolving technological landscape.