Achieving that artificial intelligence (AI), which advances in various fields, is a scientific development that seeks the general well-being of humanity and does not deepen differences and inequities between people, cultures and countries, is one of the objectives of the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence developed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which was presented by UNAM and the international organization.
In 2021, UNESCO Member States adopted this first global standard, an instrument in the form of a recommendation that establishes principles and values to realize the benefits of this technology and reduce the risks it entails.
“Artificial intelligence plays an increasingly important role in the daily functioning of society in ways that are often not apparent, others are, and once implemented they tend to become part of the usual, the daily , and are not necessarily questioned. This is not intrinsically bad, although there are many areas where the benefits are clear, but as has happened with other technological transitions, it can exacerbate inequalities between people and countries," said the UNAM Scientific Research Coordinator (CIC). , William Lee Alardin.
The joint presentation was carried out remotely by UNESCO, UNAM –through the CIC–, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the Human Rights University Program (PUDH) and the Chair of Diplomacy and Heritage of Science.
Lee Alardín suggested reflecting on the present and future use of artificial intelligence and its benefits for society. “This Recommendation touches on the risks and actions that we must take to modulate the effects, directing them towards the benefits and moving them away from the prejudices as much as possible”.
During the presentation, the Director General of Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO, Gabriela Ramos, explained that the document is a historical milestone in this international organization, "an ambitious Recommendation that makes a very concrete proposal to rethink the way how we govern these technologies, and how they can contribute to improving the well-being of the population and reducing risks”.
The values it promotes are: respect, protection and promotion of individual guarantees, fundamental freedoms and human dignity; prosperity of the environment and ecosystems; ensure diversity and inclusion; as well as living in peaceful, just and interconnected societies.
He cited the ten principles that comprise it: proportionality and not causing harm; protection and security; equity and non-discrimination; sustainability, as well as the right to privacy and data protection.
Also, supervision and human determination; transparency and explainability; responsibility and accountability; awareness and literacy; as well as multisectoral and adaptive governance and collaboration.
Meanwhile, the governor of the state of Hidalgo and president of the National Conference of Governors, Omar Fayad Meneses, referred to the importance of science as a flag of national identity that needs to be promoted in Mexico.
He said that in the UNESCO Recommendation there is a philosophical basis, and a critical and ethical sense on which debate is invited, since this technology is a new global language.
“Those responsible for what entities with artificial intelligence do are, indisputably, human beings themselves, governed in society by laws, backed by principles and conditions that make up an ethic of responsibility,” he said.
At the time, the head of the PUDH, Luis Raúl González Pérez, considered: “artificial intelligence is going through a stage of great growth and development. The impact of intelligent machines on people's daily lives is already a reality, which is why we must debate the terms that develop and operate these technologies”.
There is an imperative that they not violate human rights and preserve the dignity of people as mandated by this Recommendation, he commented.
At the same time, the researcher at the Institute of Physics of the UNAM and coordinator of Experts of the Global Alliance on Artificial Intelligence (AGIA) in Mexico (depending on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Ana María Cetto Kramis, qualified the document of great value both for its advanced and substantial content and for the process that led to its formulation and adoption by the Member States, as well as for the opportune moment of its issuance.
“Artificial intelligence is a tool that, when used properly, can bring enormous advantages and benefits to humanity. Although it is in its infancy, it has already given signs of its potential. But like any technological tool of modernity, it has the risk of being used for adverse purposes that threaten society, human rights or the environment. It is essential that it be oriented towards solving the critical problems of today”, he assured.
The Recommendation includes several action-oriented chapters covering: gender, development and international cooperation, environment and ecosystems, health and social welfare, communication and information, and education and research.