UN Negotiates Global AI Governance Amidst Diverse Views
The United Nations (UN) is in the midst of complex negotiations towards global Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance. The process, which aims to ensure respect for human rights and democratic standards in AI use, has seen active involvement from various countries and organisations.
The negotiation process has exempted national security AI systems and offered a get-out clause for the private sector. This move reflects the UN's attempt to balance the interests of different stakeholders.
The UN's path to AI governance is complicated by diverse participants and conflicting views. However, it is also exploring a Global Digital Compact for global AI governance. Countries actively supporting these negotiations include most EU member states under the EU AI Act framework, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Poland, Italy, Greece, Latvia, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, and Vietnam, reflecting their commitment to AI regulation and national AI initiatives.
The UN's treaty aims to ensure respect for human rights, the rule of law, and democratic standards in AI use. Three primary policy scenarios exist for multilateral AI governance at the UN: including the private sector, serving great powers' interests, or adopting a maximalist approach. However, future efforts may face challenges similar to those experienced by the Council of Europe in its AI governance treaty.
The UN's journey towards AI governance is complex and ongoing. While the first international legally binding treaty on AI governance was adopted by the Council of Europe in May 2024, the UN's path may involve a more plausible scenario of a binding UN treaty with fewer state parties, enabling progressive universalisation.
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