At the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the United Kingdom is setting forth an ambitious vision for harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to expedite development in the world’s most impoverished nations. The UK’s Foreign Secretary is calling on international partners to collaborate on AI development in Africa to accelerate progress toward achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative includes launching the ‘AI for Development’ program in partnership with Canada’s International Development Research Centre.
The “AI for Development” Program
- Empowering Developing Countries: The ‘AI for Development’ program aims to empower developing countries, starting in Africa, by enhancing local AI skills and fostering innovation. It seeks to bridge the technology gap and bolster these nations’ capacity to leverage AI for their development needs.
- Global Coordination: The UK’s initiative encourages international collaboration and coordination to harness AI’s potential in solving complex global challenges.
Driving the Global Conversation on AI
The UK is actively participating in driving the global discourse on AI by co-convening an event on AI during the UNGA. Chaired by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, this session brings together governments, tech firms, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to explore how AI can expedite progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. These goals aim to create a healthier, fairer, & more prosperous world by 2030.
Investing in AI for Crisis Prevention
In a commitment to harness AI to prevent crises and support sustainable development, the UK is announcing a £1 million investment in the Complex Risk Analytics Fund (CRAF’d). This innovative fund will collaborate with international partners to use AI to predict and prevent crises, respond to emergencies when they occur, and help countries recover and advance toward sustainable development.
Foreign Secretary’s Vision
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly emphasizes the immense potential of AI, which has already demonstrated its ability to expedite drug discovery, develop treatments for diseases, predict food insecurity, and more. The UK, alongside its allies and partners, is determined to ensure that this potential is shared globally.
Global AI Safety Summit
The UK’s commitment to AI extends to hosting the first major global AI Safety Summit in November. This summit, to be held at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, will focus on advancing safety measures in cutting-edge AI technology. It seeks to build global consensus on the rapid, international action needed to enhance AI safety.
Source: Gov[Dot]UK