The United Nations University Institute in Macau (UNU) is hosting its inaugural artificial intelligence (AI) conference at Macau Tower today, with the aim of facilitating “a global dialogue on the responsible and sustainable development of AI.”
Over 500 international participants are taking part in the UNU Macau AI Conference 2024, including more than 60 senior government officials responsible for overseeing communications and technology in their respective countries. The theme of the event is “AI for All: Bridging Divides, Building a Sustainable Future.”
The rector of UNU and the under-secretary general of the United Nations, Tshilidzi Marwala, and the dean of the Institute for AI International Governance, Xue Lan, both gave keynote addresses.
During his speech, Marwala highlighted the fact that AI has the capacity to “rewrite the rules of what is possible,” but said that it was essential to implement governance structures and to foster discussions between a wide cross section of stakeholders to “ensure that AI is not used for malicious purposes.” He added that “it’s essential that we align AI with universal human rights, values and ethical principles.”
Marwala made mention of the UN’s wider efforts to foster the positive development of AI, including the Global Digital Compact, an international agreement that is due to be signed during the Summit of the Future this September. While the agreement acknowledges that AI can help the world reach its sustainable development goals (SDGs), Marwala quoted a section of it that reads, “the misuse and missed use of digital technologies harms all of us.”
[See more: AI will increase energy use and could worsen the climate crisis, report says]
Meanwhile, Xue delivered an address concerning the development of AI in China and the lessons that can be gleaned. He highlighted the rapid rate at which the technology has been growing in the country, noting that China’s AI academic research between 2010 to 2021 accounted for about 40 percent of the worldwide total, outpacing the EU and UK’s roughly 15 percent share and the 10 percent conducted by the US. Similarly, China’s AI patents during the same period stood at over 60 percent of the global total.
In terms of what can be learnt from China’s experience with AI, Xue said that “agile governance is needed” and that officials need to make sure that their “governance evolves along with the technology,” while ensuring that there is coordination between departments, as its absence could “compound the impact that may harm the development of the industry.”
He also stressed that businesses and governments needed to work together to mitigate the risks of AI. “Communication and consultation between the government and industry are essential,” Xue said.
The bulk of the conference consists of 25 parallel sessions which touch on the application of AI in a range of contexts such as education, healthcare, and climate change.
An official launching ceremony is also being staged for an online platform called the UNU AI Network. According to the UN’s under-secretary-general for policy, Guy Ryder who spoke in a video message, “this network has the potential to bring together experts from many sectors to discuss issues and challenges related to AI and to develop solutions.”
