UN Security Council to convene historic discussions on risks of AI
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Governments worldwide are grappling with the challenges brought about by the rapid advancement of AI technology.
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The UN Security Council meets on April 14, 2018, at UN Headquarters in New York. (AFP)
The United Nations Security Council is preparing for its inaugural formal debate on artificial intelligence (AI) this week in New York.
Under the leadership of the United Kingdom, currently holding the rotating presidency of the Security Council, there will be a call for a global dialogue regarding the implications of AI on worldwide peace and security.
Governments worldwide are grappling with the challenges brought about by the rapid advancement of AI technology, which has the potential to reshape the global economy and transform the dynamics of international security. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will preside over the discussion on Tuesday.
As part of these conversations, there have been suggestions to establish an international regulatory body for AI, drawing parallels to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This proposal has garnered support from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and some AI industry leaders during discussions in June.
It is worth noting that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has lately warned that recent advances in artificial intelligence posed a grave threat to human rights and called for safeguards to prevent violations.
Concurrently, more than 60 countries, including the US and China, demanded that AI be governed in defense so that it "does not undermine international security, stability, and accountability."
Concerns about things like AI-guided drones, "slaughter bots" that can kill without human intervention, and the possibility that artificial intelligence could intensify a military conflict have grown. "I am deeply disturbed by the potential for harm of recent advances in artificial intelligence," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said.
