"Safe systems"

UN adopts first resolution on AI

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted its first resolution on artificial intelligence. The rapid development of AI requires international rules and enables cooperation with poorer countries in particular, according to the paper introduced by the USA on Thursday.

A global consensus on "safe and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems" must be reached as a matter of urgency, the text continues. It also condemns the misuse of AI.

Unanimous adoption
After months of negotiations among diplomats, the draft had already been accepted by the largest UN body without any further proposed amendments. This made it possible for the 193-member General Assembly to adopt it unanimously by consensus without a formal vote. General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding.

Artificial intelligence usually refers to applications based on machine learning. The rapid development of increasingly powerful software offers huge opportunities and raises hopes of major progress in the fight against diseases such as cancer or problems such as the climate crisis. At the same time, however, there are concerns that powerful applications could cause great harm if they are not regulated.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly warned of the dangers of the technology and convened a panel of experts to advise the United Nations on the issue. The UN Security Council has also already addressed the issue.

EU also concerned
In the middle of the month, the EU Parliament gave the green light for stricter rules on artificial intelligence in the European Union. According to the Parliament, this is the world's first AI law. According to this, AI systems are to be divided into different risk groups in future. The higher the potential dangers of an application, the higher the requirements should be.