Rabat – Morocco and the United States jointly launched the “Friends of AI for Sustainable Development” group at the United Nations on Friday.
The initiative was inaugurated by Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Omar Hilale, and US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Held at the U.S. Mission headquarters in New York, the first meeting of this newly formed group comes in the wake of the UN General Assembly’s adoption of a resolution on artificial intelligence (AI).
The resolution, which is co-sponsored by Morocco, the US, and 123 other member states, marks a global consensus on the use of AI to support sustainable development goals (SDGs).
“The establishment of this group signifies the trust and respect Morocco has earned at both the UN and international levels, thanks to the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI,” said Ambassador Hilale.
He highlighted the “critical” opportunity the resolution presents for the creation of a platform that fosters digital cooperation among nations, with a focus on AI’s potential to drive sustainable development.
In addition, the Moroccan diplomat emphasized the importance of using AI ethically and effectively to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.
“This initiative aims to discuss common goals and explore the contributions AI can make across various dimensions of sustainable development,” Hilale explained. “AI, when used responsibly, can be a powerful engine for development.”
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Meanwhile, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield praised the Morocco-US partnership and Morocco’s leadership role in forming the group.
She emphasized that the group’s mission is to mobilize efforts to tackle global challenges such as hunger, poverty, gender inequality, and climate change through AI.
“This group is about envisioning a future where AI systems are safe, secure, trustworthy, and respect human rights,” said Thomas-Greenfield. “The upcoming Future Summit in September reminds us that the UN must bring significant changes and new ambition for sustainable development.”
The group will receive institutional support from UNESCO and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), both of which co-chair the UN’s working group on AI.
