The United States and Morocco have established the Group of Friends on Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development in New York.
The group was formed by Omar Hilale, the Moroccan ambassador to the UN, and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the American ambassador. Its inaugural ambassadorial meeting took place on Friday at the U.S. Permanent Mission’s headquarters in New York. This comes after the first UN resolution on AI was adopted by the General Assembly. Up to the day of its passage, 123 member states, Morocco, and the United States all co-sponsored the resolution. A worldwide agreement on artificial intelligence to promote sustainable development is outlined in this historic document.
Speaking at this event, Omar Hilale emphasized the need of seizing the opportunity presented by the UN General Assembly resolution to establish a platform that will enable nations to concentrate their efforts on artificial intelligence and digital collaboration in particular.
The ambassador stated that the project aims to explore shared objectives and potential contributions within this Group, in addition to the potential benefits that AI presents and its influence on sustainable development in all its forms.
He explained that “If used efficiently and ethically, AI is proving to be an engine that can help leapfrog development, and even accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs).
The ambassador went on to say that in order to aid the Global South countries—mostly those in Africa—accelerate the implementation of the SDGs, they require access to all available tools, including artificial intelligence.
The ambassador went on to say that in order to aid the Global South countries—mostly those in Africa—accelerate the implementation of the SDGs, they require access to all available tools, including artificial intelligence. “That is why Morocco will encourage many developing countries to be actively involved in this Group of Friends, in order to have a balanced approach to AI”, he emphasized further that Morocco, aware of AI’s enormous potential for Africa, sponsored the continent’s first high-level AI forum two weeks ago in Rabat.
The continental goal of the Rabat High Level Forum, he added, is to bring Africa into the global AI discourse following the G7, G20, Bletchley Park, and Seoul Summits by highlighting the possibility of an African path that is not isolated from the other key international players. The American ambassador to the UN, for her part, commended Morocco’s cooperation with her nation.
The U.S. Ambassador to the UN, for her part, commended Morocco and her nation’s cooperation and the Kingdom’s leadership in the initiatives that resulted in the formation of this Group of AI Friends. She said that the goal of this group is to mobilize efforts to help end hunger and poverty, promote gender equality and economic growth, and address the climate disaster in order to hasten the achievement of the SDGs.
The U.S. diplomat explained that it is a way to start conversations about “a future where rights-respecting AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy.” The Summit of the Future, which will be held in New York in September of next year, will also serve as a reminder that the UN “has the power to effect meaningful change” and will inspire new goals for sustainable development for the benefit of both the present and the future generations.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with headquarters in Geneva and Paris, respectively, and which jointly maintain the co-presidency of the United Nations system’s artificial intelligence working group, will provide institutional assistance to the Group of Friends. Morocco’s appointment to co-chair this Group of Friends alongside the United States is a testament to the respect, credibility, and trust the Kingdom has both internationally and within the UN.
