UN Report: What does it mean for global governance?

The United Nations “Governing AI For Humanity” Final Report presents a noble and ambitious strategy. The report adds to an expanding landscape of governance initiatives including the OECD AI Principles, the G7 AI Code of Conduct, the Bletchley Declaration from the UK AI Safety Summit, the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) (now integrated within the OECD), and the Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law.

Governance as an enabler

The Final Report’s main focus is on coordination among governance institutions and involving diverse communities worldwide, making a strong case for “governance as a key enabler.” The Final Report moves beyond the Guiding Principles outlined in the Interim Report and recommends institutional models for international AI governance through seven concrete recommendations. It acknowledges the existence of the governance initiatives mentioned above and highlights that more inclusive engagement is needed and can be attainable by cooperating and building on these  existing initiatives.

Credo AI’s own CEO and Founder, Navrina Singh, was a member of the Advisory Council of industry experts asked to give guidance to the UN High-Level Advisory Body on AI, and Credo AI is proud to have submitted our own recommendations to the High-Level Advisory Body in comments to their Interim Report, released at the end of 2023. We are encouraged to see concrete proposals on areas identified in our Interim Report comments addressed in the Final Report:

• Harmonization of Existing Frameworks: The creation of a UN AI Office to help address coordination gaps among international AI governance initiatives with specific focus on how to help achieve the SDGs, focusing on under-served areas of public interest.
• Common Language and Global Risk Taxonomy: The creation of an AI Standards Exchange to address the lack of common language in emerging regulations and standards on terms such as “fairness,” “transparency,” and other Responsible AI terms. And the development of a coherent framework on  global governance risk taxonomy under the UN AI Office. 
• Capacity Building and AI Literacy: The creation of the Capacity Development Network helps address the need to invest in AI literacy and capacity building to enable smaller players to participate in AI Governance processes.

Notably, the report does not recommend the creation of a new supra-national AI agency and points to the need of a tailored approach drawing on lessons from other institutions. The report does call for the creation of an independent International Scientific Panel on AI supported by the UN AI Office and partnering with other international institutions such as OECD and GPAI, acknowledging that pooling scientific knowledge is most efficient at the global level. 

International Governance Frameworks Comparison

Navigating the increasing number of AI governance initiatives and understanding their interplay can be challenging. As enterprises work to develop and implement AI governance frameworks that can stand the test of time, it is helpful to focus on the common elements across these global initiatives. Below is a comparison of key global AI governance frameworks released to date. Notably, these are voluntary  –except for the Council of Europe’s Framework, which becomes binding once signed by individual countries. Most emphasize a risk-based approach, with a strong focus on research to better understand potential risks and inform actionable solutions. 

‍

‍

Conclusion 

We have observed the purposeful development of crucial global initiatives all of which can play an important role within the ecosystem. Some initiatives have remained at the principles level while others, like the UN Report, take a step back by aiming to promote more inclusive engagement and coordination in AI governance initiatives.  

In 2023, the AI policy ecosystem moved from principles to practice with the release of regulations, standards, and best practices but it was just the beginning, we welcome the continued evolution of real and concrete AI initiatives and guardrails in benefit of humanity and will continue to meet the challenge ahead of the Summit of the Future in September.

Reach out to our team today to learn how Credo AI can help your company implement comprehensive AI governance. Whether you're just getting started and need our AI Governance Advisory, or you're looking to start or scale your AI governance process with our Responsible AI Governance Platform, we have solutions for every stage of your AI governance journey.