First Global Forum on Ethics of AI held in Prague, one year after the adoption of UNESCO’s Recommendation

While artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing our lives, its benefits are not being distributed equitably across and within countries. Moreover, the technology continues to be developed in ways that raise risks related to human rights. They may also increase inequalities. While most countries are willing to take steps to minimize the risks associated with AI, many lack the regulatory capacity to do so. UNESCO seeks to bridge this gap by promoting a global and ethical approach to AI and offering guidance on regulatory measures and policies. The Recommendation is the first-ever global normative instrument in this domain, unanimously adopted 193 Member States of UNESCO.

The Forum will feature the presentation of innovative tools aimed at supporting the implementation of the Recommendation: Readiness Assessment Methodology and Ethical Impact Assessment. The Readiness Assessment Methodology will help countries understand where they stand on the scale of preparedness to implement AI ethically and responsibly for all their citizens. The Ethical Impact Assessment will help actors involved in the procurement or development of AI systems to predict consequences, mitigate risks and address societal challenges in line with the values and principles of the Recommendation.

In the past 12 months, UNESCO has helped to prepare countries to implement its Recommendation. It is in the process of setting up AI Experts without Borders, and the Global Network of Knowledge Centres on Ethics of AI – made up of some of the world’s  leading  universities  and  academic  centres. To drive forward the gender equality agenda in AI, UNESCO is establishing the Women in AI Ethics Network made up of influential female leaders from industry,  government  and  civil  society.

The organization has been working closely with countries in the global south, particularly in Africa to foster the ethical development and deployment of AI and to offer them guidance on ethical governance of the industry. Direct technical assistance is being provided to African and Small Island Developing states as a priority. The UNESCO-Southern Africa Sub-Regional Forum on AI, held in Namibia in September 2022, showcased the prototypes of the Ethical Impact Assessment and Readiness Assessment Tools, and launched a Southern African coordination mechanism for the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.  UNESCO is assisting Colombia, Mexico and El Salvador in preparing their national institutions to implement the Recommendation and by establishing a regional council to help the countries in the region decide on the top priorities for AI regulation.

The Forum will also facilitate discussions and knowledge-sharing, broker relationships between countries from the Global North and South and contribute to building an international coalition ensuring the ethical development and use of AI worldwide. The event will be attended by Czech Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Bartoš, Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský, several other ministers from around the world, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO Gabriela Ramos, as well as leading AI experts such as Stuart J. Russell.