Joint Statement on the Proposed UNGA Resolution on Artificial Intelligence Systems for Sustainable Development

14 March 2024, New York - Joint Statement on the Proposed UN General Assembly Resolution on Seizing the Opportunities of Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence Systems for Sustainable Development  

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

(The following is a joint statement on behalf of the United States, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, and the European Union.)  

 

The United States, along with 54 co-sponsors who join me in this statement, and 40 who are here at this stakeout, believe that artificial intelligence, or AI, has enormous potential to shape our economies, societies, and the world for the better – and that we must ensure these benefits extend across the globe to countries at all levels of development. For that reason, the United States, with broad consensus from Member States, has introduced a United Nations General Assembly resolution for consideration that aims to articulate a shared approach to AI systems.   

  

The resolution calls on Member States to promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems to address the world’s greatest challenges, including those related to poverty elimination, global health, food security, climate, energy, and education. We are resolved to bridge the artificial intelligence and other digital divides between and within countries through capacity building, increasing digital literacy, and other actions.  

  

Consensus on this important topic would help extend the benefits of AI to Member States across all regions and development levels, in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The text also establishes a shared vision that AI systems should be human-centric, reliable, explainable, ethical, inclusive, privacy preserving, and responsible, with a sustainable development orientation, and in full respect, promotion and protection of human rights and international law. And it affirms principles that will help make that vision a reality.  

  

As AI technologies rapidly develop, there is urgent need and unique opportunities for Member States to meet this critical moment with collective action. We have and will continue to engage with all stakeholders in this process, including members of the private sector, the technical community, civil society, and academia, and we urge all Member States to join more than 60 co-sponsors in co-sponsoring and supporting the adoption of this resolution.  

  

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