UNGA adopts Chinese led and US supported AI Resolution amid Tech War

UN adopts resolution to boost AI in developing nations, led by China and co-sponsored by the US

The race between China and the US for artificial intelligence supremacy is intensifying. Both nations have been actively seeking and poaching tech giants, issuing sanctions, and utilising United Nations resolutions to further their agendas. The United Nations General Assembly has recently adopted a resolution to boost AI capabilities in developing nations and encourage international cooperation in AI development. The “AI Unity” resolution is led by Beijing and co-sponsored by Washington.

The resolution ensures that poorer nations benefit from AI by promoting fair, open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory AI development. It sounds like a noble goal, but the involvement of China as the lead proponent has raised suspicions. While largely symbolic and non-binding, the resolution signifies a rare moment of cooperation between the two tech rivals.

China and the US are embroiled in a tech war, competing fiercely on the global stage to set the rules for AI governance. Both countries have taken aggressive steps, including poaching tech talent and imposing sanctions. Recently, the US issued draft rules to ban certain investments in AI sectors in China. In March, the US sponsored a resolution to monitor AI for potential risks, co-sponsored by 123 countries, including a reluctant China.

China’s new resolution, similar to the US initiative, is seen as a strategic move to vie for power while extending an olive branch to the US. This passive-aggressive battle reflects the complexities of the tech war, with each nation seeking to gain the upper hand in AI development.

The international community’s readiness for AI varies significantly. According to a recent report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which released an Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index, 174 economies were assessed on their AI readiness. The index considers four parameters: digital infrastructure, human capital and labor market policies, innovation and economic integration, and regulation. Singapore, Denmark, and the US received the highest ratings, while India ranked 72nd.

AI’s potential to increase productivity and boost economic growth is immense, but it also poses significant risks, such as job displacement and widening inequality. Approximately 40% of jobs globally could be impacted by AI, with many countries lacking the necessary infrastructure to harness its benefits fully. If effectively implemented, the UN resolution could help mitigate these disparities, but there are concerns that it may also serve Beijing’s interests while offering only lip service to global cooperation.

The resolution’s timing is crucial as the world grapples with the rapid advancements in AI technology and their implications. For developing nations, this resolution represents an opportunity to leapfrog into the AI era, provided they can overcome the challenges of infrastructure and policy implementation.

As the AI race continues to rage, the actions of China and the US will be closely watched. Despite underlying tensions, their cooperation on this resolution highlights the importance of global collaboration in addressing the ethical and practical challenges posed by AI. However, the true test will be in the implementation and whether the resolution leads to tangible benefits for developing nations or merely serves the strategic interests of the leading tech giants.