ECOSOC Special Meeting on “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”

The Economic and Social Council held a Special Meeting on “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” on 7 May 2024, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. (NY time). The Special Meeting aimed to explore ways to harness these technologies to address complex societal challenges and achieve the SDGs.

The objectives of the Special Meeting are to:

• Examine the role of governance frameworks in guiding the ethical and responsible deployment of AI technologies to support the achievement of the SDGs;
• Showcase real-life examples and case studies illustrating how AI had been utilized to address specific SDGs, highlighting successes, challenges, and lessons learned; and
• Facilitate knowledge sharing, collaboration, and partnerships among stakeholders from governments, international organizations, academia, civil society, the private sector, technical standards organizations, and AI experts in leveraging AI for sustainable development.

The Special Meeting brought together diverse stakeholders from governments, international organizations, academia, civil society, the private sector, technical standards organizations, and AI experts to foster dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge sharing on leveraging AI for sustainable development.

• Concept Note 
• Programme
• Side event: AI for Good Lab [map], 8 May 2024, 1.15-2.30 PM, Conference Room 12, UN Headquarters 
• Summary
• Resources:
  • A/RES/78/265: Seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development
  • Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence
  • Global Digital Compact
  • United Nations System White Paper on AI Governance
  • AI for Good
  • 2017 Joint Meeting of ECOSOC and the GA Second Committee on “The Future of Everything – Sustainable Development in the Age of Rapid Technological Change”
• Statements 
  • H.E. Ms. Paula Narváez (Chile), President of the Economic and Social Council [EN]
  • Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations 
  • Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 
  • Ms. Carme Artigas, Co-Chair of the Secretary General's High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence
  • Mr. Eliot Minchenberg, Director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Office in New York and UNESCO Representative to the United Nations 
  • Mr. Jim Balsillie, Retired Co-CEO of Research In Motion (Blackberry) and Founder and Chair, Centre for International Governance Innovation [Ppt]
  • Mr. Karan Bhatia, Global Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google 
  • H.E. Ms. Maritza Chan, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica
  • Ms. Shea Gopaul, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York for the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and co-Chair of the Business and Industry Major Group
  • Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill, Secretary General's Envoy on Technology
  • Ms. Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) [Video]
  • Ms. Celeste Drake, Deputy Director-General, International Labour Organization (ILO)
  • Ms. Ligia Noronha, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) New York Office
  • Mr. Roberto Moris, Assistant Professor, Catholic University of Chile (UC Chile) and Director, Regional Assisted Integrated Administration Project of the Santiago Metropolitan Region [Ppt]
  • H.E. Mr. Luke Goh, Second Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Singapore
  • Mr. Jorge Alberto Serra, CEO of VISIION [EN]