UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly has adopted a resolution proposed by China, with U.S. support, that calls on wealthy, developed countries to close the widening gap between them and poorer, developing nations to ensure they have equal opportunities to harness and benefit from artificial intelligence.
The resolution approved on Monday follows on from its adoption on March 21. The first UN resolution upon artificial intelligence Led by the United States and co-sponsored by 123 countries including China, the conference supported global efforts to ensure that AI is “safe, secure and trustworthy” and can be harnessed by all countries.
The adoption of two non-binding resolutions: The United States and China are rivals in many areasOur two countries are determined to play a key role in shaping the future of powerful new technologies and have joined forces in some important first international steps.
The unanimous adoption of both resolutions by the 193-member General Assembly demonstrates broad support around the world for UN leadership on this issue.
China’s UN Ambassador Fu Song told reporters on Monday that the two resolutions were complementary, with the U.S. measure being “more general” and the just-adopted resolution focusing on “capacity building.”
He called the China resolution, proposed by more than 140 countries, “great and far-reaching,” and said he was “very grateful for the active role that the United States has played throughout this process.”
Nate Evans, a spokesman for the US mission to the UN, said on Tuesday that the China-proposed resolution was “negotiated to further the vision and approach the United States put forward in March.”
“We have worked in good faith with developing and developed countries to strengthen this document and reaffirm our commitment to safe, secure and trustworthy AI that respects human rights, addresses digital inclusion and advances sustainable development,” Evans said.
Hu said AI technology is advancing extremely rapidly and the issue has been discussed at a very senior level, including with the leaders of the United States and China.
“This issue will have far-reaching implications on all fronts, but we look forward to strengthening our cooperation with the United States and with all countries around the world,” he said.
However, the Chinese ambassador strongly criticized the U.S. Treasury Department’s proposed rules, released on June 21, to restrict and monitor U.S. investment in China. Artificial Intelligence, Computer Chips, and Quantum Computing.
“We firmly oppose these sanctions,” Fu said. China believes the restrictions “are not conducive to the healthy development of AI technology itself, and will ultimately divide the world in terms of standards and rules governing AI,” and has called on the United States to lift the sanctions.
China’s resolution calls on the international community to “provide and promote a fair, open, inclusive and non-discriminatory business environment” in everything from the design and development to the use of AI. Hu said China does not believe the U.S. actions will foster an inclusive business environment.
Both the US and Chinese resolutions Civilian Applications of AIBut Hu told reporters that the military aspects of AI are also very important.
“We believe that the international community needs to take steps to mitigate the dangers and risks posed by the development of AI,” he said.
Fu said China was actively participating in negotiations in Geneva on regulating lethal autonomous weapons, and some countries were considering submitting a UN General Assembly resolution on the military aspects of AI this year, adding: “We broadly support the effort.”
Both the U.S. and Chinese resolutions warned of the dangers of AI while touting its potential benefits in advancing economic development and people’s lives around the world.
The US resolution states: Governance of Artificial Intelligence Systems “AI is an evolving field and governance approaches need to be further discussed,” the report said, urging countries to ensure that personal data is protected, human rights are upheld, and potential risks from AI are monitored.
Fu, who headed the arms control department of China’s foreign ministry from 2018 to 2022, said Beijing put forward the resolution because of the widening gap in AI technology between the developed north and the developing south.
He also said China wants to highlight the central role that the UN, as the “most representative and most inclusive international forum,” should play in AI governance.
China’s resolution resolves to “bridge artificial intelligence and other digital divides between and within countries” and to promote international cooperation, including knowledge sharing and technology transfer to developing countries.
