AI for Good and Its Role in UN Global AI Governance

Understanding AI for Good: Origin and Purpose

AI for Good is the United Nations' leading platform on artificial intelligence for sustainable development. Organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnership with over 40 UN Sister Agencies and co-convened with the Government of Switzerland, AI for Good represents the UN's premier initiative for promoting practical AI applications that serve humanity. The platform serves a three-fold purpose: identifying trustworthy AI applications, building skills and standards, and advancing AI governance for sustainable development. With a thriving community of over 37,000 active contributors spanning more than 180 countries, AI for Good has established itself as a comprehensive ecosystem for fostering AI innovation aligned with global development priorities.

Evolution and Expansion of AI for Good

The AI for Good initiative has undergone significant evolution since its inception. In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it swiftly transitioned to an online format, launching hundreds of virtual sessions to sustain its mission of fostering collaboration on practical AI solutions to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2022, the platform reached a milestone with the launch of the AI for Good Neural Network, an AI-powered community and content platform designed to connect thought leaders, industry professionals, policymakers, researchers, innovators, and civil society from around the globe. This digital platform provides inclusive access to all original AI for Good content since 2017, marking a significant shift toward a more dynamic space for collaboration, innovation, and capacity development on AI.

Key Achievements and Initiatives

AI for Good has delivered on its action-oriented promise through numerous global initiatives that demonstrate the practical applications of AI for societal benefit. These include collaborations such as the Global Initiatives on AI and Data Commons, AI for Health (in partnership with WHO), AI for Natural Disaster Management, and AI for Road Safety (in partnership with UNECE). The platform has also facilitated pre-standardization focus groups on Artificial Intelligence for various applications, including telecommunications networks, digital agriculture, environmental efficiency, and 5G. Additionally, AI for Good continues to host its flagship annual Global Summit in Geneva, along with regional impact events across the globe, engaging youth through Robotics for Good Youth Challenges, Innovation Factory, Machine Learning Hackathons, Governance Day, and the International AI Standards Summit.

The Pact for the Future: Framework for Global Cooperation

The Pact for the Future represents a significant advancement in international cooperation on emerging technologies, particularly AI. Adopted at the UN Summit of the Future in September 2024, this landmark agreement, along with its annexes—the Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations—is the culmination of years of inclusive dialogue and collaboration aimed at modernizing international cooperation to address today's realities and prepare for tomorrow's challenges. The Pact covers five key focus areas: sustainable development and financing for development; international peace and security; science, technology, and innovation, including digital cooperation; youth and future generations; and transforming global governance. This comprehensive framework aims to create a multilateral system that reflects contemporary realities and delivers for everyone, everywhere.

The Global Digital Compact: First Framework for AI Governance

The Global Digital Compact, annexed to the Pact for the Future, serves as the first comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation and AI governance. As a high-profile international framework for responsible tech governance, it addresses both the foundations (connectivity, infrastructure) and frameworks for AI governance. The Compact emphasizes governing AI with a clearly defined roadmap that includes establishing an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI with balanced geographical representation and promoting safe and reliable AI systems. It also focuses on designing, using, and governing technology for the benefit of all, enhancing media literacy education, improving transparency and accountability of platforms, and tackling hate speech, misinformation, and cyberbullying while protecting freedom of expression.

UN AI Advisory Board: Guiding Global AI Governance

The UN Secretary-General established the High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence (HLAB-AI) in October 2023 to address issues in the international governance of artificial intelligence. Composed of 39 members from 33 countries, the advisory body brings together experts from government, the private sector, the research community, civil society, and academia to foster a globally inclusive approach to AI governance. The Advisory Body works to bridge existing and emerging initiatives on AI governance and issues recommendations focusing on three key areas: international governance of AI, a shared understanding of risks and challenges, and key opportunities and enablers. These recommendations support preparations for the 2024 Summit of the Future and feed into negotiations toward the proposed Global Digital Compact.

The Advisory Body's Recommendations for AI Governance

In September 2024, the UN AI Advisory Body released its final report, "Governing AI for Humanity," outlining recommendations for addressing gaps in current AI governance arrangements. The report urges the UN to lay the foundations of the first globally inclusive and distributed architecture for AI governance based on international cooperation. Key recommendations include establishing an International Scientific Panel on AI to provide impartial scientific knowledge; launching a new policy dialogue on AI governance at the UN; setting up an AI standards exchange; creating a global AI capacity development network; establishing a global AI fund; fostering a global AI data framework; and forming a small AI office within the UN Secretariat. These recommendations aim to ensure that AI development is not concentrated among a few multinational companies in a few countries but is instead governed inclusively to benefit humanity globally.

The Need for Global AI Governance

The establishment of the UN AI Advisory Body reflects the urgent need for global governance of AI technologies. Out of 193 UN Member States, only seven are party to seven recent prominent AI governance initiatives, while 118, mostly in the Global South, are missing altogether. With no global framework to govern AI, its development is "in the hands of a few multinational companies in a few countries," risking the imposition of AI's impacts on most people without their having any say in the decisions. Global AI governance is imperative to ensure that AI technologies are developed and deployed safely, responsibly, and equitably. As the UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned, "without entering into a host of doomsday scenarios, it is already clear that the malicious use of AI could undermine trust in institutions, weaken social cohesion, and threaten democracy itself".

Intersection of AI for Good and the Pact for the Future

The relationship between AI for Good and the Pact for the Future is characterized by shared goals and collaborative efforts. The Pact for the Future, with its Global Digital Compact, establishes a comprehensive framework for digital cooperation and AI governance that aligns with AI for Good's mission to identify trustworthy AI applications, build skills and standards, and advance AI governance for sustainable development. Both initiatives emphasize the importance of designing, using, and governing technology for the benefit of all, particularly in relation to the SDGs. The Global Digital Compact's commitments to govern AI with a roadmap that includes an International Scientific Panel and a Global Policy Dialogue on AI directly support AI for Good's objectives. Furthermore, both initiatives prioritize making data more open and accessible through agreements on open-source data, models, and standards.

AI for Good and the UN's Global Governance Framework

AI for Good serves as a critical component of the UN's broader global governance framework for AI and data. As the leading action-oriented United Nations platform promoting AI to advance various global development priorities, AI for Good plays a pivotal role in implementing the governance principles and recommendations established by the UN AI Advisory Body. The platform's emphasis on identifying trustworthy AI applications, building skills and standards, and advancing AI governance for sustainable development aligns perfectly with the UN's global efforts to ensure that AI technologies benefit humanity while minimizing risks. Through its various initiatives and global summits, AI for Good provides a practical testing ground for the governance frameworks and principles developed by the UN, demonstrating how AI can be effectively governed to serve the public good.

AI for Good and the UN AI Advisory Board: A Complementary Relationship

The relationship between AI for Good and the UN AI Advisory Board is characterized by complementary roles and shared objectives. While the Advisory Board focuses on providing recommendations for the international governance of AI, AI for Good serves as an implementation platform that puts these recommendations into practice through concrete initiatives and collaborations. The Advisory Board's emphasis on creating a cohesive global governance structure for AI directly supports AI for Good's mission to advance AI governance for sustainable development. Similarly, AI for Good's practical experience in implementing AI solutions for various global challenges provides valuable insights and feedback to inform the Advisory Board's recommendations. This symbiotic relationship ensures that AI governance recommendations are both theoretically sound and practically implementable.

Collaborative Implementation of the Global Digital Compact

The implementation of the Global Digital Compact requires close collaboration between AI for Good, the UN AI Advisory Board, and various other stakeholders. As highlighted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, particular focus is being placed on Artificial Intelligence, with reports being developed on voluntary financing options to help countries in the Global South harness AI for the greater good. The zero draft of a resolution to establish the International Independent Scientific Panel on AI and convene a Global Dialogue on AI Governance represents a concrete step toward implementing the Compact's recommendations. AI for Good's extensive network of over 37,000 active contributors from more than 180 countries provides a valuable platform for engaging diverse stakeholders in these implementation efforts. By leveraging this network, AI for Good helps ensure that the Compact's vision of inclusive, equitable, and responsible AI governance is translated into reality.

AI for Good's Role in Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing

One of the critical areas where AI for Good contributes to the UN's global AI governance framework is in capacity building and knowledge sharing. The platform facilitates collaborations among AI innovators, researchers, and policymakers to develop and scale AI solutions that address global challenges. Through initiatives like the AI for Good Lab, a collaborative effort by ITU, Slalom Element Lab, and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the platform provides hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI applications already being utilized by UN entities to accelerate progress towards the SDGs. Additionally, AI for Good's regional impact events and youth engagement programs help build capacities and foster innovation in diverse communities around the world. These efforts directly support the UN AI Advisory Body's recommendations for creating a global AI capacity development network to boost AI governance capacities worldwide.

Addressing the Digital Divide through AI for Good

A central concern in global AI governance is ensuring equitable access to AI technologies and preventing the widening of the digital divide. AI for Good directly addresses this challenge through its emphasis on inclusive innovation and capacity building. The platform's commitment to making AI technologies accessible to all, particularly those in developing countries, aligns with the Global Digital Compact's call for connecting everyone to the Internet and closing digital divides. By facilitating knowledge transfer and capacity building across regions, AI for Good helps ensure that the benefits of AI are not limited to a handful of states, companies, and individuals but are shared globally. This approach is particularly important given the risk that AI may "increase inequality both across the Global North and Global South, but also within countries".

Ensuring Ethical and Responsible AI Development

Both AI for Good and the UN's global governance framework emphasize the importance of ethical and responsible AI development. AI for Good provides a platform for addressing the conundrum at the heart of AI governance: "How do we govern technologies if we don't yet know their full potential?". The platform's focus on identifying trustworthy AI applications and advancing AI governance aligns with the UN AI Advisory Body's call for AI that "reduces bias, misinformation, and security threats instead of aggravating them". Through its various initiatives and global summits, AI for Good facilitates discussions on critical issues such as AI bias, transparency, and accountability, contributing to the development of ethical frameworks and best practices for AI governance.

Fostering Multi-stakeholder Collaboration

A key strength of both AI for Good and the UN's global governance framework is their emphasis on multi-stakeholder collaboration. AI for Good brings together diverse voices to harness AI's potential for inclusive and sustainable development worldwide. Similarly, the UN AI Advisory Body emphasizes the importance of engaging stakeholders from all sectors, including governments, businesses, academia, and civil society. This multi-stakeholder approach ensures that AI governance frameworks reflect diverse perspectives and interests, particularly those from the Global South, which often lacks representation in global AI governance discussions. By fostering dialogue and cooperation among various stakeholders, AI for Good helps build consensus on AI governance principles and practices that serve the global good.

AI for Good's Contribution to the SDGs

A central aspect of AI for Good's mission is leveraging AI to accelerate progress toward the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The platform identifies and scales practical AI solutions that address specific SDGs, showcasing how AI can contribute to sustainable development. Through initiatives like the AI for Good Global Summit, the platform highlights practical applications of AI that advance health, climate, gender, inclusive prosperity, sustainable infrastructure, and other global development priorities. This focus on concrete, impactful applications of AI aligns with the UN AI Advisory Body's emphasis on harnessing AI to support the SDGs. By demonstrating the tangible benefits of AI for sustainable development, AI for Good helps build support for responsible AI governance frameworks that maximize these benefits while minimizing risks.

Challenges and Future Directions

Despite significant progress in global AI governance, numerous challenges remain. The rapid pace of AI development makes it difficult to establish timely and effective governance frameworks. Additionally, different cultural, legal, and political contexts across countries complicate efforts to develop globally harmonized approaches to AI governance. The UN AI Advisory Body's interim report notes that developing a comprehensive list of AI risks "for all time is a fool's errand," highlighting the dynamic nature of AI governance challenges. Moving forward, AI for Good and the UN's global governance framework must continue to evolve and adapt to address emerging challenges and opportunities in AI development and deployment. This will require ongoing dialogue, collaboration, and commitment from all stakeholders to ensure that AI serves as a force for good in our increasingly interconnected world.

Conclusion: Toward a Coherent Global AI Governance Ecosystem

The interaction between AI for Good, the Pact for the Future, the UN's global governance of AI and data, and the UN AI Advisory Board represents a promising step toward establishing a coherent global AI governance ecosystem. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, fostering innovation, and promoting ethical and responsible AI development, these initiatives collectively contribute to ensuring that AI technologies benefit humanity while minimizing risks. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted, "This Summit can help ensure that Artificial Intelligence charts the course that benefits humanity and bolsters our shared values. The United Nations stands ready to be a universal platform for discussion together let us make sure we use AI to enhance human dignity and serve the global goods". Through continued collaboration and commitment, these initiatives can help shape a future where AI serves as a powerful tool for addressing humanity's most pressing challenges while upholding fundamental values of equity, inclusion, and human dignity.