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The UNESCO Business Council for the Ethics of AI was officially launched
The Business Council for the Ethics of AI was officially launched at the Ministerial and High Authorities Summit on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Latin America and the Caribbean held in Santiago de Chile, which took place on October 23 and 24, organized by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation of Chile, CAF, and UNESCO. The launch had the participation of the two co-chairs of the Council: Microsoft and Telefónica.
The Business Council for AI Ethics was consolidated as the collaborative initiative between UNESCO and companies operating in Latin America that are involved in the development or use of artificial intelligence (AI) in various sectors. The Council serves as a platform for companies to meet, exchange experiences, and promote ethical practices in the AI industry, based on UNESCO recommendation.
The Business Council was officially launched by co-chairs, Amanda Craig Deckard, Senior Director, Responsible AI Public Policy, Microsoft, Trinidad Jiménez, Director of Global Public Affairs Strategy, Telefónica, and Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO.
Gabriela Ramos said, "In this era of rapid technological change, urgent action is imperative. AI already shapes how we learn, navigate, finance our dreams, and safeguard our health… Together, we must harness the power of AI, blending its technological prowess with the diverse experiences of policymakers, academics, scientists, and international organizations. This collaborative effort is the key to steering AI towards a future that benefits all of humanity.”
Trinidad Jimenez stated that ‘it is time to decide and define what the basic rights and obligations of people and machines are in this new world. It is a question of values. We must put people at the center and people's rights above all other criteria. Forums and meetings like the current one, organized by UNESCO and Chile, are essential to be able to reflect and jointly build a society of progress for all’.
On her side, Amanda Craig highlighted that "building on UNESCO's excellent work to foster global momentum on implementation of the recommendation on ethical AI as well as the contributions of Latin America and the Caribbean to drive responsible innovation forward, there is now a remarkable opportunity to advance a shared vision for the region on harnessing AI responsibly. The progress achieved in Chile on developing a regional AI council is an excellent foundation for working toward interoperable governance, and the AI business council can serve as a useful partner to enrich that conversation."
The Business Council will support UNESCO's recommendation by applying and finetuning the Ethical Impact Assessment as one of the implementation tools that UNESCO created to implement the Recommendation in practice. The Business Council will also work with UNESCO to better understand AI development in the region by providing insights into the economics and finance of AI.
The forthcoming UNESCO Global AI Forum in Slovenia (February 2024) will be the next stop for the Council. Stay tuned!
