UNGA adopts a new resolution on artificial intelligence

The global community recently saw a spark of multilateral collaboration marked by intensifying competition for dominance in artificial intelligence (AI) and the essential resources like microchips, data centers, and critical minerals that fuel it. On March 21, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly passed an unprecedented resolution advocating for developing and using safe, secure, and trustworthy AI. 

This resolution, endorsed by the United States and China and co-sponsored by 120 other countries, emphasized the need to uphold and promote human rights throughout the AI lifecycle. Although it remains uncertain whether this resolution will significantly reduce the dangers associated with cutting-edge AI technologies, it signals a growing recognition among UN member states of the urgent need to regulate AI effectively before it begins to shape governance on a broader scale.

As concerns about AI's potentially harmful impacts mount globally, nations respond with diverse regulatory strategies. China, recognizing the risks to its regime stability, implemented stringent regulations on AI technologies in 2021. In contrast, the U.S. began addressing these concerns only in October 2023 with an Executive Order. The European Union, on the other hand, has taken a pioneering role with the AI Act of March 2024, establishing a comprehensive legal framework for safe and ethical AI usage. This diversity of approaches underscores the complexity of AI governance and the need for global coordination.

Notably, major tech companies have taken a proactive role in establishing safety and security standards for AI. In 2023, industry leaders like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft endorsed principles of AI safety and trust with the U.S. White House. This commitment was further solidified in early 2024 with agreements to moderate AI-generated content during elections. Their proactive stance demonstrates the potential for self-regulation within the tech industry.

However, despite these advances, the implementation of AI regulations remains inconsistent globally, particularly in regions like Africa and Latin America, where AI adoption and investment lag behind. This uneven landscape underscores a growing "AI divide" that mirrors existing economic disparities, risking the creation of standards that fail to consider the diverse political, social, and economic conditions across different regions.

This evolving scenario underlines the imperative for more robust, globally coordinated regulatory frameworks to ensure AI develops ethically, securely, and beneficially for all. As AI regulation advances, engaging a broad range of stakeholders, including governments, private sector entities, and civil society, is crucial to crafting effective governance for this transformative technology.