UNITED NATIONS, July 3 (AP) The United Nations General Assembly, backed by China, has adopted a resolution calling on wealthy developed countries to close the growing gap with developing countries and provide them with a level playing field to use and benefit from artificial intelligence.
Monday’s resolution follows the adoption of the first UN resolution on artificial intelligence, led by the United States and sponsored by 123 countries, including China. It provided global support for international efforts to ensure that artificial intelligence is “safe and reliable” and that all countries can use it.
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The adoption of two nonbinding resolutions shows that the United States and China, rivals in many fields, are committed to playing a key role in shaping the future of powerful new technologies and are cooperating on important international first steps.
The unanimous adoption of the two resolutions by the 193 members of the General Assembly demonstrates broad global support for their leadership on this issue.
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Fu Kong, China’s ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters on Monday that the two resolutions are complementary, with the U.S. solution being “more general” and the recently adopted resolution focusing on “capacity building.”
He called the Chinese resolution, which had more than 140 co-sponsors, “broad and comprehensive” and said, “We are very grateful for the positive role that the United States has played throughout this process.”
Nate Evans, a spokesman for the U.S. mission to the United Nations, said Tuesday that the China-sponsored resolution was “negotiated in March to support the United States’ vision and approach.”
“We have worked diligently and sincerely with developing and developed countries to improve the text and confirm that it supports safe, secure and trustworthy AI that respects human rights, upholds digital inclusion and promotes sustainable development,” Evans said.
Fu said that artificial intelligence technology is developing extremely rapidly and the issue has been discussed at high levels, including by U.S. and Chinese leaders.
“We look forward to strengthening our cooperation with the United States, and therefore with the rest of the world, on this issue, which… will have far-reaching consequences in all dimensions,” he said.
The Chinese ambassador, however, sharply criticized proposals announced on June 21 by the US Treasury Department, which limit and monitor US investments in China in the fields of artificial intelligence, computer chips and quantum computers.
“We firmly oppose these sanctions,” Fu said. China does not believe the rule “will in itself contribute to the healthy development of artificial intelligence technology and will largely divide the world in terms of standards and regulations governing artificial intelligence.” He called on the United States to lift the sanctions.
The Chinese resolution calls on the international community to “create and promote a fair, open, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment from the design and development of artificial intelligence to its use.” Fu said China does not believe the U.S. actions will promote a more inclusive business environment.
The U.S. and Chinese decisions focus on civilian applications of AI, but Fu told reporters that the military aspect of AI is also very important.
“We believe that the international community should take measures to reduce the risks and dangers posed by the development of artificial intelligence,” he said.
China is actively participating in the Geneva negotiations on lethal autonomous weapons control, Fu said, adding that some countries are considering proposing a UN General Assembly resolution on the military aspect of artificial intelligence this year, “and we have broad support for this initiative.”
The U.S. and Chinese resolutions warn of the dangers of artificial intelligence as well as its potential benefits for supporting economic growth and the lives of people around the world.
The US resolution acknowledges that “the management of artificial intelligence systems is an emerging field” and that further discussions on potential management approaches are needed. It calls on countries to monitor personal data protection, human rights protection, and artificial intelligence to detect potential threats.
Fu, who headed the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s arms control office from 2018 to 2022, said Beijing pushed for the resolution because of the widening gap in artificial intelligence technology between the advanced North and the developing South.
He said China also wants to stress the central role the United Nations should play in AI governance as “the most inclusive and inclusive forum.”
The aim of the Chinese resolution is to “eliminate artificial intelligence and other digital disparities between and within countries” and promote international cooperation, including knowledge sharing and technology transfer to developing countries. (PA)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News, LatestLY staff may or may not have edited the content text)
