United Nations General Secretary, Antonio Guterres, has announced the establishment of a 39-member advisory board to address issues surrounding the global governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The board will comprise tech company leaders, government officials from nations ranging from Spain to Saudi Arabia, and academics from countries including the USA, Russia, and Japan.
Representatives also hail from six continents, with diverse members such as the American AI specialist Vilas Dara, Professor Ji Zeng from China, and Egyptian lawyer Mohamed Farahat.
“Without diving into a litany of doomsday scenarios, it’s already evident that malicious use of AI could erode trust in institutions, weaken societal cohesion, and even threaten democracy itself,” Guterres stated in a release quoted by Reuters.
Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT last year, global interest in the new technology has surged, leading to AI researchers voicing concerns over potential societal risks.
While many governments are formulating legislation to regulate AI’s proliferation, both researchers and lawmakers are urging international collaboration.
The UN body is set to release preliminary recommendations by year’s end, with final proposals due by summer 2024. Its immediate tasks include forging a global scientific consensus on risks and challenges and bolstering international cooperation in AI management.
The board’s inaugural meeting is scheduled for 27th October.