In a landmark decision, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/78/L.49 on “Seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence for sustainable development.” This marks the first-ever resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) regarding AI. 

The Resolution will guide the regulatory development of AI technologies on the national and international level in years to come and marks a step in the “race to AI regulation.”

UNITAR Division for Peace will focus on establishing and integrating an AI-focused digital cooperation and partnership development as part of its Online Learning and Education Unit (OLE).

UNITAR Division for Peace's AI-focused digital cooperation and partnership development initiative will aim to explore novel opportunities to contribute to the UN Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 9: New Agenda for Peace. 

Thus, exploring and creating cross-cultural collaborative partnerships focusing on sharing and disseminating thoughts and experiences of working with artificial intelligence in shaping global peace and security in both higher education and technical, vocational education and training. 

The emphasis will be on exchange integrating three core principles. UNITAR recognises it does not have the solutions or answers to many questions related to seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence for peace, security, and sustainable development.

Education & Capacity Development First

Open to all who work in higher education and care about how the sector is being shaped by AI. We will aim to promote education through technology, and at the heart of the AI-focussed digital collaboration are questions such as what the purpose is, and future, of higher education and technical, vocational education and training.

Interdisciplinarity

Open to all who have professional interest in higher education and AI. We will actively seek to ensure that we have a balanced membership representing different disciplines, genders, career stages, institutions, and geographical regions.

International

Encourage cross-cultural perspectives and collaboration. However, we do not aim to replicate international organisations. Membership will be based on interest and relevance rather than nationality. Our working language will be English.

Coming from different institutions, disciplines, career stages, roles, and geographical locations, we take a deliberative approach to examining the opportunities and impact of AI on higher education and technical, vocational education and training.

Ethical AI Development: Emphasise the importance of developing AI systems that adhere to ethical principles, respect human rights, and promote global well-being.

AI for Peacekeeping: Outlines the use and integration of AI technologies into current UN peacekeeping missions, enhancing situational awareness and conflict prediction capabilities.

AI-Powered Early Warning Systems: It proposes the creation of AI-driven early warning systems to detect and prevent potential conflicts and humanitarian crises.

Capacity-Building: Highlight the need for capacity-building in AI technologies, particularly in developing nations, to bridge the global digital divide.

 In conclusion, the integration of AI into higher education focussing on UN peace and security efforts would contribute to:

• Conflict Prevention: AI-powered analysis of vast datasets can help identify early signs of potential conflicts, allowing for timely preventive action.
• Peacekeeping Operations: AI can enhance the safety and effectiveness of peacekeepers through improved threat detection and resource allocation.
• Disarmament and Non-proliferation: AI technologies can assist in monitoring and verifying compliance with international arms control agreements.
• Cybersecurity: AI-driven systems can bolster the UN's capabilities in addressing cyber threats and promoting global digital peace.

As we move forward, the UN remains committed to harnessing the potential of AI for the betterment of humanity while addressing associated risks and challenges. The 2024 AI Resolution serves as a guiding framework for this ongoing journey towards a more peaceful and secure world.

Dr. Jon-Hans Coetzer

Senior Programme Specialist, Online Learning and Education Unit, Division for Peace, UNITAR
 

Email: jon-hans.coetzer@unitar.org