The United Nations Aims to Address AI with the Same Zeal as Climate Change – It’s No Robot Apocalypse, Just Yet!
“The United Nations Wants to Treat AI With the Same Urgency as Climate Change”
“The UN’s technology innovation lab recently published its first report on the state of artificial intelligence technologies. It includes a broad overview of AI’s potential impact on various sections of society, like recommendations for AI in education and health, as well as for ‘AI for Good’ projects.” So suggests the article over at Wired which talks about how the United Nations is starting to realize the potential of artificial intelligence.
Firstly, one does have to appreciate the grand gesture made by the UN’s technology innovation lab by publishing their very first report on AI technologies. A commendable act, absolutely, where they’ve offered a sweeping overview of AI’s likely impact across various sections of society. Not to forget, they’ve made upright recommendations for incorporating AI in education and health sectors.
Isn’t it rather heartening to see that the United Nations, an organization of such gravitas, has started acknowledging the perks and potential threats of artificial intelligence? Their gung-ho for the ‘AI for Good’ initiative might just be the icing on the cake. Crushing societal challenges with a newly minted tech sword – isn’t that a delight to behold?
The subtly wrapped conundrum here is the question of governance. As the Wired piece rightly points out – “The report lays bare the lack of an international definition for AI, as well as the friction between competing national visages of AI’s future”, ends up raising more questions than it actually answers. Who gets to decide what AI is? And who’s in charge of deciding where it’s going? Whoever they are, they better have a whole lot of coffee and aspirin handy.
Delving deeper into the realms of AI, the report pleasingly covers its use in detecting misinformation or the ‘infodemic’ as the UN beautifully dubs it. What a relief! Because the societal chaos caused by misinformation on the interweb almost went unnoticed.
Noticeably absent from the report though, ironically, is any concrete direction on AI’s potential risks. To quote the article once more, “The UN’s report doesn’t offer much guidance on what to do about AI’s downsides…” Shaking one’s head in disbelief is perhaps a suitable reaction.
Come on, isn’t there a tinge of irony when a comprehensive report on AI doesn’t address its potential pitfalls? It’s like giving directions to an unknown destination, but missing out the potential potholes.
In conclusion, the United Nations taking an active interest in the effects and outcomes of AI technology is indeed commendable. However, the blatant disregard for potential pitfalls leaves it feeling like an overture rather than a full concerto. Perhaps the next symphony from the UN will sing more harmoniously about the highs and lows, giving us a balanced symphony that doesn’t ignore any single note.