Charting the Path for Global Ethical AI Governance: Presenting the Global AI Ethics Charter at ICAIA-25 in Paris
A Global AI Ethics Charter: A Unified Framework for Ethical AI Governance and Global Collaboration
Download Research Paper
Global Digital Compact Adopted Text (September 2024): Download
UN’s Governing AI For Humanity Report (September 2024): Download
AI Action Summit Consultation Report (December 2024): Download
After a cascade of personal unfortunate and fortunate events a few weeks ago—ranging from leaving my briefcase, containing my laptop and this unsynced research paper, in a rideshare vehicle (a fault entirely my own, as navigating the complexities of the AI Revolution in the United States often leaves one forgetful), to struggling to contact the driver despite being able to track the briefcase’s location thanks to technological advancements, to being extraordinarily fortunate that the driver’s genuine generosity made the return of my belongings possible, to realizing I had left a legal document in the briefcase that ultimately facilitated its safe delivery—culminating in a member of the Sheriff’s department knocking on my door with my somehow-retrieved laptop, all the stars seemed to align, and I am thrilled to announce that I have successfully submitted my research paper, A Global AI Ethics Charter: A Unified Framework for Ethical AI Governance and Global Collaboration, available here, to Research Leagues as part of my application for the upcoming International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Applications (ICAIA-25), which will take place on February 19-20, 2025, in Paris, France.
The International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Applications (ICAIA-25) focuses on fostering collaboration between researchers, industry professionals, and educators to address challenges and share advancements in AI across various sectors, including healthcare, education, and applied sciences. Meanwhile, the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, also taking place in Paris on February 10 and 11, 2025, is a high-profile gathering of world leaders, policymakers, and global organizations, emphasizing AI’s role in shaping public interest, global governance, and societal transformation.
My research paper proposing a Global AI Ethics Charter, bridges the themes of both events by offering a roadmap for ethical AI development and governance that balances innovation with inclusivity, transparency, and human rights. I am hopeful that my framework will inspire meaningful conversations at both forums, contributing to the broader discourse on AI governance and ethics, alongside the United Nations' existing frameworks, including the Global Digital Compact and the Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Body on AI's Final Report, “Governing AI for Humanity.”
The Global AI Ethics Charter aims to establish ethical guidelines for the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies across nations. The framework is built on the pillars of transparency, accountability, inclusivity, and diversity, and outlines a strategic roadmap for implementing these principles on a global scale. In a world where AI is rapidly becoming part of every facet of life, it’s more important than ever to ensure that AI serves humanity in ways that promote societal well-being, human rights, and sustainable development.
AI has incredible potential to transform industries like healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability. However, without a comprehensive ethical framework in place, there is a significant risk of misuse, bias, and unintended consequences. My submission to ICAIA-25 highlights the need for a Global AI Ethics Consortium to foster international collaboration and ensure that AI governance is aligned with shared human values and global challenges.
As we look toward the future, both, the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Applications and the Paris AI Summit represents a unique opportunity to gather some of the brightest minds in artificial intelligence. I am hopeful that this Charter will be reviewed by the global AI community and will contribute to the ongoing conversations surrounding AI ethics and governance.
I believe that the principles and strategic roadmap outlined in my submission could help bridge the gap between innovation and ethics, ensuring that AI technologies are developed with human rights, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship at their core. Together, we can work toward creating a future where AI is a force for good, benefiting people from all walks of life.
I look forward to engaging with experts and thought leaders in Paris, and I am optimistic that this research will help drive meaningful conversations around the ethical implications of AI. I’m also hopeful that this framework will not only be reviewed but also, with the support of global leaders, set in motion for broader implementation.
What is the United Nations' Global Digital Compact (GDC)?
The United Nations' Global Digital Compact (GDC) is an ambitious initiative introduced in 2020 as part of the UN Secretary-General’s Common Agenda, aiming to establish a comprehensive framework for global governance of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence. Officially adopted during the Summit of the Future in September 2024, the GDC seeks to create an open, secure, and inclusive digital environment for all. Its primary goal is to close digital divides, ensure access to digital technologies, protect human rights online, and promote trust in the digital ecosystem.
The GDC is a multi-stakeholder framework involving governments, international organizations, private companies, civil society, and academia. It focuses on fostering global cooperation in areas like cybersecurity, data governance, and digital public goods. Through open, transparent, and inclusive consultations, the GDC addresses key challenges in the digital world, providing a roadmap for harnessing digital innovation while ensuring the protection of privacy, security, and human rights in the digital age. The Compact's principles and objectives aim to guide policy development globally and align digital growth with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in underrepresented and underserved regions.
What is the UN’s High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence?
United Nations Secretary-General’s video message for launch of the Final Report of the High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence:
UN’s Proposals for Global Governance on AI:
The High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence is a multi-stakeholder group established in October 2023 as part of the United Nations Secretary-General's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation. Initially proposed in 2020, this body is tasked with providing analysis and advancing recommendations for the international governance of AI. Composed of experts participating in their personal capacity, the Advisory Body’s work reflects a majority consensus on AI-related issues, though it does not require unanimous agreement on every point. The body operates independently from the organizations its members are affiliated with, and the report it produces is designed to represent collective insights into the responsible governance of AI at a global scale.
Comparing the United Nations' Global Digital Compact and “Governing AI for Humanity”: Scope, Focus, and Strategies
The United Nations' Global Digital Compact (GDC) adopted text and the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Body on AI's Final Report, "Governing AI for Humanity" are both initiatives focused on digital governance, but they differ in scope, focus, and implementation strategies.
Here is a detailed comparison:
1. Scope and Focus
Global Digital Compact (GDC):
The Global Digital Compact is a broad framework that addresses the governance of the entire digital ecosystem, which includes AI as one component. It aims to create a safe, inclusive, and open digital environment that promotes cooperation between governments, the private sector, and civil society. Its primary focus is on:Closing digital divides.
Promoting digital rights.
Ensuring access to secure and trusted digital infrastructure.
Supporting equitable participation in the digital economy.
“Governing AI for Humanity” (Final Report of the High-level Advisory Body on AI):
This report is specifically focused on AI governance, offering a detailed analysis and set of recommendations for the responsible development and deployment of AI. It addresses AI-related risks, opportunities, and challenges with a sharper focus on ethics, accountability, and transparency. Its primary concerns include:Ensuring ethical AI development.
Establishing global cooperation on AI governance.
Mitigating risks associated with AI, such as bias, privacy concerns, and disinformation.
Fostering AI’s positive contributions to sustainable development.
2. Objectives
Global Digital Compact (GDC):
The main objective of the GDC is to build a global digital cooperation framework. It emphasizes securing the digital future for all by promoting:Universal access to digital technologies.
Safe digital environments.
Equitable participation in digital economies.
Cybersecurity and privacy protection.
Data governance, including ownership and sovereignty.
“Governing AI for Humanity” Report:
The objective of this report is to establish global AI governance structures and guidelines, ensuring that AI is harnessed for the common good while mitigating its risks. It calls for:A global network for AI governance.
An international panel on AI to guide governments on policy decisions.
Development of ethical standards and accountability frameworks for AI.
Addressing AI’s environmental impact, such as energy consumption.
Ensuring AI serves humanity and does not exacerbate inequality or violate human rights.
3. Implementation Approach
Global Digital Compact (GDC):
The GDC promotes a multi-stakeholder approach for governance that involves governments, international organizations, private sectors, and civil society. It envisions a framework that fosters collaboration across sectors to create a safe and inclusive digital environment. Its governance structure is more general in scope and seeks to provide an overarching framework for various digital technologies, including AI.“Governing AI for Humanity” Report:
The report recommends a more targeted approach to AI governance, proposing specific measures such as creating an AI office within the UN, an AI Standards Exchange, and an AI capacity-building network to address the global governance of AI technologies. The focus is on AI’s impact on human rights, democracy, and global development goals, emphasizing ethical AI development and accountability structures.
4. Digital vs. AI-Specific Concerns
Global Digital Compact (GDC):
The GDC covers a wider range of digital technology issues beyond AI. This includes:Internet governance.
Digital infrastructure and access.
Protection of human rights in the digital age.
Digital public goods and cybersecurity.
AI is only one part of the broader digital governance landscape discussed in the GDC.
“Governing AI for Humanity” Report:
This report is exclusively dedicated to AI governance and focuses on:AI ethics and human rights.
Global coordination for AI standards.
Mitigating the societal risks of AI, including bias and disinformation.
Ensuring AI supports global development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
5. Outcomes and Future Directions
Global Digital Compact (GDC):
The GDC is designed to create a comprehensive digital future for all, addressing broad challenges such as digital access, trust, and security. The outcomes of the GDC are intended to guide the governance of not only AI but the entire digital ecosystem, including data privacy, cybersecurity, and universal internet access.“Governing AI for Humanity” Report:
The outcomes of this report are more specific to AI policy and include creating international AI governance mechanisms to ensure ethical standards, fostering cross-border cooperation on AI research, and preventing harmful uses of AI in global societies. The focus is on developing actionable, AI-specific frameworks to prevent risks and ensure benefits for humanity.
Conclusion:
The Global Digital Compact is a broad digital governance initiative that aims to create a secure, open, and inclusive digital environment, while the “Governing AI for Humanity” Report is a more focused initiative addressing the specific challenges and opportunities of AI technology. The Compact deals with all aspects of the digital world, including AI, while the report is solely dedicated to creating ethical governance for AI, with an emphasis on accountability, cooperation, and human rights.
Both frameworks are essential for creating a safe and ethical digital and AI future, but the Global Digital Compact offers a wider lens on digital governance, whereas “Governing AI for Humanity” provides a targeted approach for AI-specific challenges.
Comparing the Global AI Ethics Charter and the UN’s Global Digital Compact: Ethical AI Development for Inclusivity and Human Rights
Introduction:
As digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies continue to reshape the global landscape, the need for comprehensive frameworks to govern their ethical use becomes increasingly urgent. Two prominent initiatives addressing this challenge are the Global AI Ethics Charter and the United Nations’ Global Digital Compact. While both frameworks emphasize ethical governance and collaboration, they approach the issue from different angles. The Global AI Ethics Charter focuses primarily on the ethical implications and governance of AI technologies, ensuring that AI is developed transparently, inclusively, and responsibly. In contrast, the Global Digital Compact offers a broader framework for digital technology governance, encompassing AI along with other digital tools, with the goal of fostering digital inclusion, security, and human rights. This comparison explores the key similarities and differences between the two frameworks, highlighting their complementary roles in shaping a secure and ethical digital future.
1. Core Objectives:
Global AI Ethics Charter: Focuses on the ethical governance of AI technologies with an emphasis on safeguarding human rights, promoting transparency, and addressing socio-economic implications of AI. It prioritizes the responsible development and deployment of AI systems across industries like healthcare, education, and public policy.
Global Digital Compact (GDC): A broader governance framework that addresses digital technologies at large, encompassing AI as a subset. The GDC focuses on ensuring an open, safe, and secure digital environment for all, promoting digital inclusion, closing digital divides, and establishing cooperation in digital governance.
2. Key Themes and Principles:
Global AI Ethics Charter:
Transparency: Advocates for transparent AI systems where algorithms and decision-making processes are open for scrutiny.
Accountability: Calls for frameworks to hold governments and companies accountable for AI misuse or harm.
Inclusivity: Promotes the inclusion of marginalized groups in the benefits of AI and advocates for global AI cooperation.
Fairness and Bias Mitigation: Aims to reduce bias and ensure fairness in AI applications, especially in critical areas like criminal justice and healthcare.
Global Digital Compact:
Digital Inclusion and Accessibility: Aims to close the digital divide by ensuring access to digital technologies for underserved populations.
Data Governance: Promotes responsible data use, privacy, and security as essential to building trust in the digital world.
Human Rights: Stresses the protection of human rights in the digital space, such as privacy, safety, and protection against cybercrime.
Multistakeholder Collaboration: Encourages collaboration between governments, private sector, and civil society to shape digital governance that works for all.
3. Scope and Reach:
Global AI Ethics Charter: Primarily focused on AI technology, its development, deployment, and socio-economic impact. It offers a more focused roadmap for ethical AI development globally, urging for cooperation among nations specifically on AI-related issues.
Global Digital Compact: Encompasses the entire digital ecosystem, with AI as one of its many aspects. The GDC also addresses internet governance, cybersecurity, and data privacy, making it a more extensive framework for global digital cooperation.
4. Implementation Strategies:
Global AI Ethics Charter: Proposes national AI ethics strategies based on a country’s technological maturity, emphasizing AI governance at different stages of development. It advocates for the establishment of a Global AI Ethics Consortium to facilitate cross-border cooperation and shared ethical standards in AI research and applications.
Global Digital Compact: Emphasizes multilateral cooperation on digital infrastructure, cybersecurity protocols, and digital governance frameworks. The GDC promotes intergovernmental dialogue led by countries like Sweden and Zambia to create global policies that close the digital divide and secure global digital ecosystems.
5. Regulatory and Governance Focus:
Global AI Ethics Charter: Urges the creation of flexible regulatory frameworks like regulatory sandboxes where AI technologies can be tested before full-scale implementation. This allows for the refinement of AI tools in a controlled environment while addressing potential ethical risks.
Global Digital Compact: Focuses on data governance, cybersecurity, and building global trust in digital platforms. The GDC promotes comprehensive regulatory standards to safeguard user data, prevent cyberattacks, and ensure secure digital spaces across the globe.
6. Human Rights Focus:
Global AI Ethics Charter: Specifically targets AI’s impact on privacy, autonomy, and civil liberties. It promotes AI systems that uphold the dignity and rights of individuals, ensuring that AI technologies do not violate human rights through misuse or biases.
Global Digital Compact: Addresses human rights more broadly within the digital ecosystem, emphasizing online privacy, safety, and protection from surveillance, disinformation, and cybercrime. It also underscores the importance of digital public goods and ensuring equitable access to digital services globally.
Conclusion:
While the Global AI Ethics Charter provides a focused framework for the ethical development of AI technology and its societal implications, the Global Digital Compact covers a wider range of digital technologies, including AI. The Compact focuses on building a secure, open, and inclusive digital future, encompassing a more comprehensive approach to global digital governance. Both frameworks share a commitment to human rights, transparency, and multistakeholder cooperation, but the Global AI Ethics Charter delves deeper into the ethical issues surrounding AI specifically, while the Global Digital Compact looks at the digital world as a whole, addressing challenges like digital access, data governance, and cybersecurity.
These two frameworks complement each other, with the Global AI Ethics Charter offering the ethical guidelines necessary for AI development, while the Global Digital Compact sets the stage for a broader digital future where AI plays a key role in global digital cooperation.
Comparing the Global AI Ethics Charter to the UN's Final Report, "Governing AI for Humanity": Bridging Ethical AI Standards with Global Governance
Introduction:
As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies rapidly evolve, various global initiatives are attempting to define the principles, governance structures, and regulatory frameworks that will guide its ethical and responsible use. Two key frameworks addressing this issue are the Global AI Ethics Charter and the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Body on AI’s Final Report, “Governing AI for Humanity” (2024). While both frameworks seek to address ethical concerns, global governance, and the socio-economic implications of AI, they differ in their scope, focus, and the mechanisms they propose to govern AI globally. This comparison aims to highlight the similarities and differences between these two crucial frameworks, emphasizing how they complement each other in shaping the future of ethical AI governance.
1. Core Objectives:
Global AI Ethics Charter:
The Charter focuses on the ethical development and deployment of AI, emphasizing safeguarding human rights, promoting fairness, and ensuring transparency in AI systems. It is designed to create a shared global ethical foundation for AI technologies to minimize harm while maximizing benefits across various sectors like healthcare, education, and labor markets."Governing AI for Humanity" Final Report:
The Final Report also addresses global AI governance but goes beyond ethical principles to provide specific, actionable recommendations for international cooperation. It emphasizes the need for a coordinated global response to AI risks and opportunities, advocating for institutional models that can oversee AI's development and ensure that benefits are distributed equitably. It highlights AI’s potential to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while warning of risks like AI biases, surveillance, and disinformation.
2. Key Themes and Principles:
Global AI Ethics Charter:
Transparency: AI decision-making processes should be open for public scrutiny to ensure trust and accountability.
Inclusivity: AI technologies must be inclusive, benefiting marginalized and underrepresented groups globally.
Accountability: Governments and organizations should be accountable for any harms caused by AI, ensuring mechanisms to rectify unethical uses.
Bias Mitigation: A key focus is reducing biases in AI systems, particularly in high-impact sectors like criminal justice and hiring.
"Governing AI for Humanity" Final Report:
Global Cooperation: Calls for an international collaborative approach to address AI governance, with the United Nations playing a central role in facilitating dialogue and policy coordination.
Ethical Standards: Proposes the establishment of an international scientific panel on AI, mirroring the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to standardize and promote ethical AI use globally.
Capacity Development: Emphasizes the need for global capacity-building initiatives to ensure that all countries, especially low- and middle-income nations, can harness AI's benefits.
3. Scope and Reach:
Global AI Ethics Charter: The Charter is primarily focused on AI technologies, laying out ethical principles for their development and application. Its scope is narrower than the Final Report, concentrating on the ethical ramifications of AI specifically and its impact on society.
"Governing AI for Humanity" Final Report: The scope of the Final Report is broader, encompassing not only the ethical issues surrounding AI but also addressing gaps in global AI governance, representation, and implementation. It also looks at the geopolitical and socio-economic implications of AI development and deployment across borders.
4. Implementation Strategies:
Global AI Ethics Charter: The Charter advocates for flexible regulatory frameworks, such as regulatory sandboxes, where AI technologies can be tested safely before being widely deployed. It also promotes the idea of creating a Global AI Ethics Consortium to facilitate cross-border cooperation on AI ethics and governance.
"Governing AI for Humanity" Final Report: The Final Report proposes more institutionalized global mechanisms, such as creating a global AI data framework, capacity development networks, and even an AI office within the United Nations Secretariat. These mechanisms aim to address AI governance gaps and ensure that governance keeps pace with rapid technological changes.
5. Human Rights Focus:
Global AI Ethics Charter: The Charter places a strong emphasis on protecting individual rights, privacy, and civil liberties from being compromised by AI technologies. It advocates for AI systems that are designed and implemented with the dignity and autonomy of individuals in mind.
"Governing AI for Humanity" Final Report: The Final Report also stresses the importance of human rights but broadens the focus to include societal-level impacts, such as AI’s role in exacerbating global inequality or its potential to disrupt labor markets. It proposes frameworks to ensure that AI development contributes to global development goals, especially in underserved regions.
Conclusion:
While the Global AI Ethics Charter offers a focused framework for ensuring the ethical development of AI technologies, the “Governing AI for Humanity” Final Report provides a broader and more detailed governance structure aimed at addressing the global impact of AI. Both frameworks are critical to the responsible future of AI governance, with the Charter offering ethical guidelines and the Final Report proposing tangible, international mechanisms to ensure that AI benefits humanity as a whole. These frameworks, together, represent complementary efforts toward establishing a fair, transparent, and inclusive AI governance model.
Kevin to ChatGPT:
Would it be fair to say that the UN’s Global Digital Compact framework as well as the UN's Final Report, "Governing AI for Humanity" framework, do not fully provide a complete approach to the implementation of ethical artificial intelligence on a global scale in the context of the Global AI Ethics Charter?
ChatGPT:
Yes, it would be fair to say that while both the UN’s Global Digital Compact (GDC) and the UN’s Final Report, "Governing AI for Humanity" provide important frameworks for the governance of AI and digital technologies, they do not fully provide a comprehensive or complete approach to the global implementation of ethical AI as envisioned by the Global AI Ethics Charter.
Here’s why:
Broader Scope vs. AI-Specific Focus:
The Global Digital Compact focuses on the governance of the entire digital ecosystem, with AI as one component, while addressing broader issues like digital inclusion, cybersecurity, data governance, and digital rights. As such, its approach to AI is part of a wider digital governance framework, and it does not delve deeply into the specific ethical, socio-economic, and technical challenges unique to AI.
The "Governing AI for Humanity" Final Report, although AI-specific, emphasizes global cooperation, capacity-building, and institutional frameworks for governance but lacks detailed, practical guidance on how AI ethics principles can be implemented in diverse socio-economic contexts, which is one of the main strengths of the Global AI Ethics Charter.
Ethical Guidance vs. Governance Structures:
The Global AI Ethics Charter provides a robust ethical framework focused on the responsible development and deployment of AI. It emphasizes transparency, accountability, fairness, and bias mitigation, offering clear principles that can guide both governments and private entities in the ethical implementation of AI.
While the Final Report and the GDC acknowledge the importance of ethical AI, their focus is more on building governance structures and ensuring global cooperation. They do not provide as detailed a roadmap for addressing AI's ethical challenges in specific sectors, such as healthcare or criminal justice, as the Global AI Ethics Charter does.
Implementation Strategies:
The Global AI Ethics Charter emphasizes the creation of flexible regulatory frameworks, such as regulatory sandboxes, and proposes the establishment of a Global AI Ethics Consortium to facilitate cross-border cooperation on AI ethics. It also offers tailored strategies for implementing ethical AI governance in developed, developing, and underdeveloped countries.
In contrast, the "Governing AI for Humanity" Report proposes broader institutional mechanisms, such as an AI office within the UN and international capacity-building networks. However, it lacks the granularity and specificity provided by the Charter on how to implement ethical AI in various socio-economic and cultural contexts.
Focus on Human Rights and Inclusivity:
While both the Global Digital Compact and the Final Report emphasize the need to protect human rights, privacy, and equity in AI and digital governance, the Global AI Ethics Charter places a stronger and more AI-specific emphasis on addressing biases, ensuring inclusivity, and protecting human dignity. The Charter explicitly calls for bias mitigation and fairness in AI applications, especially in critical areas like healthcare, education, and criminal justice.
Socio-Economic and Sector-Specific Impacts:
The Global AI Ethics Charter takes a more sector-specific approach, addressing the unique ethical challenges AI poses in sectors like labor markets, public policy, and education. It provides guidance on how AI can be developed to reduce inequality and mitigate socio-economic harm.
The "Governing AI for Humanity" Report primarily focuses on the global coordination of AI governance, and while it acknowledges the importance of addressing socio-economic impacts, it does not provide the in-depth analysis of AI’s specific effects on various industries and sectors that the Global AI Ethics Charter offers.
Comparing the Global AI Ethics Charter to the AI Action Summit Consultation Report: Aligning Ethical Frameworks with Participatory Governance for a Sustainable AI Future
Introduction:
The Global AI Ethics Charter and the AI Action Summit Consultation Report both address the ethical and governance challenges of artificial intelligence (AI). While the Charter offers a detailed framework focused on inclusivity, sustainability, and global collaboration, the AI Action Summit Report reflects a participatory and multistakeholder approach to shaping AI governance. Below is a comparison of the two documents' objectives, key principles, and implementation strategies.
1. Core Objectives:
Global AI Ethics Charter:
Establishes ethical guidelines for the development and deployment of AI globally.
Focuses on equitable access, inclusivity, and the responsible development of AI.
AI Action Summit Consultation Report:
Emphasizes participatory governance and multistakeholder collaboration.
Advocates for public education, trust-building, and systemic governance reforms.
2. Key Themes and Principles:
Transparency and Trust:
The Charter emphasizes transparency in AI systems, with requirements for explainability and fairness audits.
The Report advocates for transparency mechanisms like labeling AI-generated content and ensuring human oversight.
Global Collaboration:
The Charter proposes a Global AI Ethics Consortium for harmonized governance.
The Report highlights the necessity of multilateral agreements and cross-border frameworks.
Inclusion and Equity:
Both documents prioritize reducing biases and ensuring equitable AI benefits distribution.
The Report specifically calls for involving underrepresented groups and Global South nations.
3. Governance Frameworks:
Global AI Ethics Charter:
Suggests phased adoption strategies tailored to regional technological capacities.
Promotes the use of regulatory sandboxes for refining ethical AI applications.
AI Action Summit Consultation Report:
Proposes shared international standards for AI safety, environmental impact, and public trust.
Calls for the establishment of international task forces and public-private partnerships.
4. Implementation Strategies:
Global AI Ethics Charter:
Focuses on phased implementation: foundational development, sector-specific applications, and global collaboration.
Advocates for capacity-building among policymakers.
AI Action Summit Consultation Report:
Recommends community engagement and educational initiatives for public and professional awareness.
Includes actionable deliverables such as a Green AI Leaderboard and an AI Commons Initiative.
Conclusion:
The Global AI Ethics Charter and the AI Action Summit Consultation Report complement each other by addressing distinct aspects of AI governance. The Charter offers a structured and focused ethical framework, while the Report emphasizes participatory and inclusive processes. Together, they provide a comprehensive foundation for ethical, sustainable, and equitable AI governance.
Kevin to ChatGPT:
Would it be fair to say that the AI Action Summit Consultation Report does not fully provide a complete approach to the implementation of ethical artificial intelligence on a global scale in the context of the Global AI Ethics Charter?
ChatGPT:
Yes, it would be fair to say that the AI Action Summit Consultation Report does not fully provide a complete approach to the implementation of ethical artificial intelligence on a global scale in the context of the Global AI Ethics Charter.
Here’s why:
Broader Focus vs. Specific Ethical Framework:
The AI Action Summit Consultation Report is primarily focused on fostering global collaboration and establishing high-level principles for AI governance. While it emphasizes the importance of ethics, fairness, and inclusivity, its approach is broader and less detailed when it comes to specific implementation strategies.
In contrast, the Global AI Ethics Charter provides a comprehensive and specific framework for the ethical development and deployment of AI. It outlines actionable principles tailored to address sector-specific challenges and socio-economic disparities, which are not as comprehensively addressed in the Summit Report.
Ethical Guidance vs. High-Level Cooperation:
The Global AI Ethics Charter lays out explicit ethical guidelines, including bias mitigation, transparency, accountability, and fairness. It also provides sector-specific strategies for healthcare, education, and labor markets, offering practical solutions for real-world applications.
The AI Action Summit Consultation Report, while acknowledging the importance of ethics, focuses more on building multilateral governance structures and fostering international cooperation. This approach, while valuable, lacks the detailed ethical guidance and sector-specific focus provided by the Charter.
Implementation Strategies:
The Global AI Ethics Charter proposes actionable strategies such as the establishment of a Global AI Ethics Consortium, the use of regulatory sandboxes, and tailored approaches for different economic contexts (developed, developing, and underdeveloped nations).
The AI Action Summit Consultation Report leans towards institutional recommendations, such as capacity-building networks and international standards for AI. However, it does not provide the granular, actionable steps required to translate these high-level principles into practical, ethical AI governance.
Focus on Inclusivity and Human Rights:
While the AI Action Summit Consultation Report highlights inclusivity and equity as important goals, its approach remains generalized and does not offer detailed measures to address issues such as algorithmic bias or socio-economic inequalities caused by AI.
The Global AI Ethics Charter explicitly focuses on mitigating biases, ensuring fairness, and protecting human dignity, particularly in critical areas like criminal justice and public policy. It also emphasizes the importance of global inclusivity, ensuring that marginalized groups are not left behind in the AI revolution.
Socio-Economic and Sector-Specific Impacts:
The Global AI Ethics Charter provides a sector-specific approach, addressing the ethical challenges unique to industries such as healthcare, education, and public policy. It also examines AI’s broader socio-economic implications, offering strategies to reduce inequality and promote equitable access to AI technologies.
The AI Action Summit Consultation Report largely focuses on the overarching goal of global cooperation. While it recognizes the socio-economic impacts of AI, it does not delve into specific strategies for addressing these challenges in various industries or socio-economic contexts.
Conclusion:
While the AI Action Summit Consultation Report makes valuable contributions to global AI governance by promoting cooperation and high-level principles, it lacks the detailed, actionable strategies and sector-specific focus needed to fully implement ethical AI on a global scale. The Global AI Ethics Charter complements the Summit Report by providing a robust ethical framework and practical implementation roadmap, making it a more comprehensive guide for addressing the ethical, societal, and technical challenges of AI. Together, these frameworks can play complementary roles in shaping the future of ethical AI development.
Conclusion
While the Global Digital Compact, the "Governing AI for Humanity" Report and the AI Action Summit Consultation Report are critical frameworks for AI governance, they do not fully provide a complete approach to the implementation of ethical AI on a global scale as envisioned by the Global AI Ethics Charter. The Charter's specific focus on ethical principles, sector-specific guidance, and tailored implementation strategies for different countries gives it a more comprehensive approach to ensuring the ethical development and deployment of AI technologies worldwide. Together, these frameworks can complement each other, but the Global AI Ethics Charter provides the deeper ethical foundation needed for AI’s responsible global implementation.
Furthermore, as emphasized in the Biden-Harris Administration’s correspondence with the Voice For Change Foundation, achieving effective AI governance requires thoughtful global cooperation—an approach that aligns closely with the principles and strategic roadmap outlined in the Global AI Ethics Charter. This call for collaboration underscores the urgent need for unified efforts to ensure AI serves humanity equitably and responsibly.
Note:
Acknowledging the relevance of global efforts in shaping AI governance, it is worth highlighting that the Draft and Adoption of a Global Charter for Public Interest AI is currently being proposed as part of the AI Action Summit, as indicated in the December 2024 report. This proposal underscores the need for a unified definition and framework to guide ethical AI development and deployment globally.
Interestingly, such a concept was brought to the attention of the French government back in April 2024 when I proposed a Global AI Ethics Charter. In response, Rodrigue FURCY, through the office at the Elysee, acknowledged the suggestions and assured that these concerns and proposals were duly noted. This response demonstrated an early recognition of the need for a comprehensive global framework to ensure ethical and inclusive AI development.
The alignment between the acknowledgment from the French government and the AI Action Summit's current focus on a global charter highlights the ongoing global momentum toward establishing ethical AI standards. These efforts reinforce the shared vision of creating robust frameworks that prioritize transparency, inclusivity, and accountability in AI governance.
Correspondence with the Office of French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace:
Subject: Submission of the Global AI Ethics Charter for Review at the 2025 AI Summit in Paris
Your Excellency,
I hope this letter finds you in excellent health and good spirits. I am writing to you with profound respect and a sense of urgency to share with you my Global AI Ethics Charter, a framework designed to complement the remarkable work already accomplished through the Consultation Report of the AI Action Summit, the Final Report on AI Governance for Humanity, and the United Nations Global Digital Compact. While I sincerely apologize for not meeting the official deadline for written contributions, set for November 15, 2024, I humbly request that my input still be considered at the 2025 AI Summit in Paris next February.
My Charter is accessible online for review via the following link: https://www.voiceforchangefoundation.org/advocacy/charting-the-path-for-global-ethical-ai-governance-presenting-the-global-ai-ethics-charter-at-icaia-25-in-paris.
Over the past several months, leveraging the latest ChatGPT model, 01 Pro Mode, I conducted an in-depth and comparative analysis of these foundational documents. Through this process, I identified critical areas that lacked either sufficient detail or essential elements necessary to establish comprehensive and ethical guidelines for the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies across nations. My Charter addresses these gaps with concrete solutions aimed at ensuring fairness, sustainability, and ethical accountability within the AI landscape.
I am writing this letter from a temporary shelter, as my personal and professional circumstances have faced significant challenges. As a displaced technology sector worker in the United States, grappling with the rapid revolution of AI, I have been without income for over a year. The primary reason for my inability to re-enter a saturated job market is the widespread adoption of AI by companies to streamline operations and cut costs. This situation is exacerbated by the rise of automated recruitment systems, which automatically reject applications, even for data analysis positions for which I am fully qualified. This reality, coupled with the IMF’s description of AI’s impact on the labor market as a “tsunami,” has profoundly affected my situation. Despite these challenges, I have persevered in developing this Charter, driven by a commitment to contribute to global discussions on ethical AI governance.
I sincerely hope this Charter can provide valuable input to the remarkable efforts you and other global leaders are undertaking at the AI Summit. It aims to fill existing gaps and provide concrete steps to guide the responsible progress of AI technologies while ensuring that no one is left behind.
I would be deeply grateful if this Charter could be reviewed by your team and considered in the Summit discussions. If an opportunity arises to present my findings in person or through other means, I would be honored to contribute.
Thank you for considering this request and for your continued leadership in building a future where AI serves humanity equitably and responsibly.
With my deepest respect and gratitude,
Kevin Bihan-Poudec
Founder, Voice for Change Foundation
