On Thursday, the United Nations unanimously adopted a resolution aimed at promoting the safe and reliable development of artificial intelligence (AI), marking a significant global effort to establish consensus on the technology. Leading the initiative, the United States spent the past three months engaging in negotiations with member nations of the U. N. In over 40 hours of discussions, U. S. officials engaged in intense conversations with adversaries such as Russia and China, with the goal of reaching an agreement on the resolution. A senior Biden administration official, who briefed reporters anonymously, revealed that there were contentious moments during these private negotiations. According to the official, the unanimous adoption of the resolution by the United Nations demonstrates how AI transcends traditional geopolitical divisions. The official also mentioned that the suggestions put forward by Russia, China, and Cuba were largely incorporated into the final version of the resolution. The resolution not only aims to establish U. S.

leadership in global AI development but also reflects the Biden administration's increasing efforts to expand its influence within the intergovernmental body. While legislators in the United States are still in the early stages of crafting AI legislation, the European Union and other countries have made significant progress. While the resolution seeks to promote human rights, it does not include any enforcement mechanisms for countries that do not comply. In light of this, China has already proposed regulations that would require generative AI systems, like ChatGPT, to adhere to socialist values. This broad agreement builds upon previous international AI agreements. In the previous year, the United States, China, the European Union, Britain, and over 20 other countries endorsed the Bletchley Declaration, which aimed to mitigate the existential safety risks of AI and foster international collaboration in research. However, the Biden administration pursued a new agreement with the United Nations to address concerns raised by developing nations who felt excluded from previous international AI agreements. Advertisement.