On Thursday, the U.N. General Assembly unanimously passed a groundbreaking resolution that focuses on the potential impact of artificial intelligence in advancing sustainable development. The resolution highlights the importance of ensuring that AI systems are safe, secure, and dependable.

The program, spearheaded by the US, aims to control the hazards of AI while harnessing its advantages.

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that with the convergence of the U.N. and AI today, we must take on the responsibility of governing this technology as a united global community, instead of allowing it to govern us. Let us reaffirm our commitment to developing and utilizing AI with a human-centered approach, ensuring principles of humanity, dignity, safety, security, human rights, and fundamental freedoms are upheld.

The Biden administration announced that it spent over three months in discussions to establish a foundational set of principles regarding AI. They worked with 120 countries and considered input from several, including China, one of the 123 countries that co-sponsored the agreement.

Although General Assembly resolutions do not hold legal weight, they represent the collective agreement of the global community in terms of politics.

The resolution acknowledges the unequal levels of technological progress between developed and developing nations and emphasizes the importance of narrowing the digital gap in order for everyone to have fair access to the advantages of AI.

The text discusses strategies for ethical management of AI, such as creating rules and regulations, promoting education and training, and promoting innovation. The resolution promotes working together globally to tackle the changing issues and potential of AI, with a specific emphasis on achieving sustainable development goals.

Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, expressed her support for the resolution’s adoption, stating that all countries should adhere to a universal set of principles when utilizing AI technology.

In previous technological revolutions, there has been a lack of equal distribution of benefits and a disproportionate burden on certain individuals, as the speaker stated in a statement. This resolution aims to create a plan for the future of AI that allows all countries to reap its benefits and address potential risks.

During the January World Economic Forum gatherings in Davos, Switzerland, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres shared worries about the potential for “unintended consequences” when it comes to advancements in generative AI. While recognizing its potential for sustainable development, he also cautioned that it could contribute to worsening inequality.

At the time, he stated that certain influential tech corporations are prioritizing profits without regard for human rights, privacy, and social consequences.

Last year, the U.N. leader established a committee for providing guidance on AI, which will release its conclusive findings before the U.N.’s Summit of the Future in September.