Rabat – In a first for the United Nations, the United States and Morocco unveiled a draft resolution on artificial intelligence (AI) that emphasizes harnessing the technology’s potential for global good.
Both countries’ UN ambassadors presented the initiative, titled “Seizing the Opportunities Offered by Safe, Secure, and Reliable Artificial Intelligence Systems for Sustainable Development,” during a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York.
The resolution reflects a global consensus on the need for responsible AI development. It calls on UN member states to prioritize the creation of secure and reliable AI systems to tackle critical issues like poverty, healthcare, food security, climate change, and education.
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US representative to the UN, speaking on behalf of the countries involved, emphasized the immense potential of AI to reshape economies and societies.
However, she stressed the importance of ensuring equitable access to these benefits, urging development across all nations.
The resolution outlines a vision for human-centered AI that prioritizes ethics, inclusivity, privacy protection, and alignment with sustainable development goals and human rights.
Ambassador Omar Hilale, Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN, commended the US for initiating the resolution and noted Morocco’s early involvement in ensuring its adoption. He underscored the importance of dialogue among UN member states to ensure this rapidly developing technology serves the collective good.
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Morocco, he said, pushed for the resolution to address the potential for AI to exacerbate existing social, digital, and economic divides between developed and developing countries.
A joint statement from 54 states, including Morocco, emphasizes the resolution’s potential to extend AI benefits to all UN members, fostering sustainable development.
The statement reiterates core principles for responsible AI development and urges further collaboration with stakeholders across sectors, including the private sector, academia, and civil society.
Hilale highlighted the vast potential of AI for African nations, particularly in healthcare, agriculture, education, environmental initiatives, and economic growth.
He concluded by reiterating Morocco’s strong support for international cooperation on AI development, ensuring it benefits all of humanity.
