UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly has adopted a resolution sponsored by China with U.S. support urging wealthy developed countries to close the widening gap with poorer developing nations and ensure they have equal opportunities to use and benefit from artificial intelligence.
The resolution approved Monday follows the adoption on March 21 of the first UN resolution on artificial intelligence Led by the United States and co-sponsored by 123 countries, including China, it provided global support for the international effort to ensure that AI is “safe, secure and trustworthy” and that all nations can benefit from it.
The adoption of the two non-binding resolutions shows that the The United States and China, rivals in many areasare both committed to playing a key role in defining the future of this powerful new technology — and have cooperated on important first international steps.
The adoption of the two resolutions by consensus by the 193 members of the General Assembly demonstrates broad global support for their leadership on this issue.
Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the U.N., told reporters Monday that the two resolutions were complementary, with the U.S. measure being “more general” and the one just adopted focusing on “capacity building.”
He called the Chinese resolution, which had more than 140 sponsors, “tremendous and far-reaching,” and said, “We are very grateful for the positive role that the United States has played in this whole process.”
Nate Evans, a spokesman for the U.S. mission to the United Nations, said Tuesday that the China-sponsored resolution “was negotiated to advance the vision and approach set out by the United States in March.”
“We have worked diligently and in good faith with developing and developed countries to strengthen the text, ensuring that it reaffirms safe, secure and trustworthy AI that respects human rights, commits to digital inclusion and advances sustainable development,” Evans said.
Fu said AI technology is advancing extremely quickly and the issue has been discussed at very high levels, including by U.S. and Chinese leaders.
“We look forward to intensifying our cooperation with the United States and, indeed, with all countries of the world on this issue, which… will have far-reaching implications in all dimensions,” he said.
The Chinese ambassador, however, sharply criticized the U.S. Treasury Department’s proposed regulation, announced on June 21, which would restrict and monitor U.S. investments in China. Artificial Intelligence, Computer Chips and Quantum Computing.
“We firmly oppose these sanctions,” Fu said. China does not believe the rule “will contribute to the healthy development of AI technology in itself and, by extension, will divide the world in terms of norms and rules governing AI.” He called on the United States to lift the sanctions.
The Chinese resolution calls on the international community to “create and promote a fair, open, inclusive and non-discriminatory business environment,” from the design and development of AI to its use. Fu said China does not believe the U.S. actions are conducive to an inclusive business environment.
Both the US and Chinese resolutions focus on the Civil applications of AIBut Fu told reporters that the military dimension of AI is also very important.
“We believe it is necessary for the international community to take measures to reduce the dangers and risks posed by the development of AI,” he said.
China is actively participating in negotiations in Geneva on controlling lethal autonomous weapons, Fu said, adding that some countries are considering proposing a resolution to the UN General Assembly this year on the military dimension of AI – “and we broadly support this initiative.”
Both the U.S. and Chinese resolutions warned of the dangers of AI while touting its potential benefits in promoting economic development and the lives of people around the world.
The US resolution recognizes that “the governance of artificial intelligence systems “This is an evolving field” that requires further discussion on possible governance approaches. He calls on countries to ensure that personal data is protected, human rights are preserved and AI is monitored for potential risks.
Fu, who headed the arms control department of China’s foreign ministry from 2018 to 2022, said Beijing proposed the resolution because of the widening gap in AI technology between the developed North and the developing South.
He added that China also wants to stress the central role the United Nations should play in AI governance as “the most representative and inclusive international forum.”
The Chinese resolution aims to “bridge artificial intelligence and other digital divides between and within countries” and promote international cooperation, including sharing knowledge and transferring technology to developing countries.
