Organized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the annual forum is the place where people meet artificial intelligence. It is so popular that attendance is oversubscribed, with the queue to enter stretching hundreds of meters, past one of Geneva’s largest conference centres, and the internet bandwidth barely keeping up with the flood of digital information.
The location has become a showcase for cutting-edge technology, including AI-powered robots, mind-controlled tools, generative AI solutions and the hardware, the backbone of the global AI ecosystem.
As attractive and entertaining as the machines are, they are not the pinnacle of the top.
With people in mind
At the center of the stage, both metaphorically and literally, are the people. The main stage of the two-day summit will feature a tight line-up of presentations and panels discussing all aspects of human interaction with artificial intelligence, both the pros and cons.
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General of the ITU, opens the summit underlined the transformative potential of AI and emphasized the need for inclusive and secure AI governance.
“In 2024 – in the age of AI and unimaginable opportunities – a third of humanity will remain offline, excluded from the AI revolution and without a voice,” said Ms. Bogdan-Martin. “This digital and technological divide is no longer acceptable. .”
She underlined the critical digital divide – with 2.6 billion people worldwide still without internet access – and urged collective action to bridge this gap, emphasizing that equal access to AI technology is essential for inclusive progress.
Global coordination
“We are in a race against time. Recent developments in AI have been nothing short of extraordinary,” she said.
To ensure global coordination in building safe and inclusive AI accessible to all, the ITU head said, three key aspects must be taken into account: risk and security management, infrastructure and resource development and international cooperation.
Ms. Bogdan-Martin praised initiatives such as the historic UN General Assembly resolution to promote trustworthy AI systems and the ITU’s collaboration with UNESCO on the application of existing laws to AI. She called for continued momentum, with particular emphasis on the upcoming UN Top of the future.
Bionic limbs and prenatal care
The ITU chief shared inspiring examples from the AI for Good Innovation Factory, including start-ups Bioniks, a Pakistan-led initiative designing artificial limbs, and Ultrasound AI, a US-based, women-led initiative to advance antenatal care to improve.
Speak with UN news At the forum, founder and CVO (Chief Visionary Officer) of Bioniks Anas Niaz explained that the idea behind his start-up was to produce affordable prosthetics for amputees, including children. The use of a smartphone for scanning, brain-controlled technology and a simplified fitting process that does not require trips to a hospital help reduce costs, making the company’s products “the most affordable bionic limbs in the world.”
UN News/Anton Uspensky
Bioniks startup from Pakistan presents brain-controlled bionic limbs at ITU’s annual AI for Good Global Summit 2024.
“You can submit the measurements via a mobile phone, and we will send your prosthesis to your front door. These prosthetics are waterproof and people in humid climates can use them for almost anything. Children write along with them,” Mr Niaz explained, adding that Bioniks, as a social enterprise, helps find sponsors for those who need a bionic limb but cannot afford to buy it.
Fighting fake news during the world’s biggest election year
With 2024 marking the world’s biggest election year in history, Ms Bogdan-Martin warned of the threats posed by deepfakes and disinformation. She announced the ITU’s commitment to developing robust standards for AI watermarking and digital content verification, emphasizing that “standards build trust; they are the cornerstone of responsible AI.”
Some such solutions are already being used by the UN Development Program (UNDP), which helps governments apply AI to identify disinformation and disinformation attacks.
“When we provide electoral support to countries during their elections, we have an AI-based platform that serves as a disinformation detection platform and flags suspicious content for (further) human fact checking,” said Robert Opp, Chief Digital Officer of UNDP. UN news.
‘AI generation’
ITU chief Ms Bogdan-Martin called on the global community to embrace its role as the ‘AI generation’ and advocated a future where artificial intelligence serves the interests of humanity.
“Let’s remember that the future doesn’t start with algorithms, it starts with us,” she said. “Here, in our brains…the most complex, powerful and creative computer the world has ever known.”
Accelerating sustainable development
Speech at the AI for Good Summit via video message, UN Secretary General António Guterres highlighted the transformative potential of AI in promoting sustainable development worldwide.
Guterres emphasized the dual nature of AI, outlined its enormous promise and underlined the need for responsible and inclusive governance.
“Artificial intelligence is changing our world and our lives,” said Mr. Guterres. “And it can boost sustainable development.”
UN News/Anton Uspensky
He elaborated on the versatile applications of AI and pointed out its ability to revolutionize sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, housing and disaster management. He also illustrated how AI could deliver education and healthcare services to remote areas, improve agricultural productivity, design environmentally friendly housing and transportation systems, and provide early warnings of natural disasters.
“AI could be a game-changer for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” the UN chief claimed. However, he warned that realizing AI’s full potential requires addressing its risks, including bias, misinformation and security threats.
“We need global coordination to build safe and inclusive AI that is accessible to all,” he said, praising the ITU for its early work on AI standards and for convening the summit.
Business community on board
These calls from leaders of international organizations are well heard by the digital community. To talk with UN newsMelike Yetken Killa, head of international organizations at Google, discussed a handful of projects the data giant is assisting the UN with.
These include a project using Google data and AI to track and map progress towards the SDGs around the world, and a project co-developed with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to create a flood hub, allowing users to predict natural disasters up to seven days in advance as part of an early warning system.
“Last year, with the creation and launch of large language models and generative AI, was the year of ‘Wow!’ I would argue that this year is the year of “How?” How we will work with international organizations to identify and set AI rules for the road and guardrails,” said Ms. Yetken Killa, adding that the UN is leading the process by establishing and developing the Global Digital Compact and other initiatives to create, including the top of the future.
