At AI Summit, diplomats and Pharrell mull destiny of tech revolution

This article is published in association with United Nations.

AI is already transforming our world but its power rests “in the hands of a few”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Tuesday in Paris, in an appeal for countries to use the revolutionary technology together, “to bridge the gap between developed and developing countries – not widen it”.

Addressing the AI Action Summit against the glittering backdrop of the Grand Palais museum in the French capital, the UN chief warned that the growing concentration of AI capabilities risked deepening geopolitical divides. “Global guardrails” must be agreed and deployed urgently and best practices shared, Mr. Guterres insisted, in the interests of solidarity, equitable policies and fair business.

With national leaders, tech CEOs and even Pharrell Williams looking on, the UN chief also called for clean energy solutions, as AI data centres already place “an unsustainable strain” on our planet.

“It is crucial to design AI algorithms and infrastructures that consume less energy and integrate AI into smart grids to optimize power use,” he insisted. “From data centres to training models, AI must run on sustainable energy so that it fuels a more sustainable future.”

The rapidly developing field of AI should help to accelerate universally agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and not “entrench inequalities”, Mr. Guterres continued.

Unfounded fears

Also at the summit to discuss AI’s possibilities and perils, singer-superstar Mr. Williams rejected concerns that it might make humans redundant or take people’s jobs. “There’s just too much fear around it,” he said.

“We wouldn’t use AI to help us write a song,” he added, insisting that the tech “wouldn’t replace creativity…You know, there was a whole thing around the year 2000 as well, but we’re fine, we survived that.”

Representing US interests, Vice-President JD Vance said that $450 billion of investment in the sector was planned. He cautioned against overly stringent controls. “Excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry as it’s taking off,” he added.

Commercial edge

Offering insight into how AI is evolving, Choi-Soo-yeon, head of South Korean AI giant Naver, explained that what people want today is “not websites, but information” that is more relevant to their needs.

“By understanding users underlying intent and context, AI will recommend products their users really want,” she said. “This is expected to create a commerce platform where various tastes to end personalities coexist and are actively connected.”

The UN’s role in AI

Highlighting the UN’s mission to ensure that no one is left behind by this new technology, Mr. Guterres pointed to the Global Digital Compact on AI governance which Member States agreed to in September last year. The Compact “brings the world together around a shared vision: one where technology serves humanity, not the other way around,” the Secretary-General said, as he urged all countries to support the creation of an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI.

Equally important is the establishment of a Global Dialogue on AI Governance featuring all UN Member States, “to align [AI] governance efforts around the world and reinforce their interoperability, uphold human rights in AI applications and prevent misuse…We must prevent a world of AI ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots,’” the UN chief insisted.

Energy angle

Addressing the need to square the circle of energy-hungry AI data centres, Fatih Birol, Executive director of the intergovernmental International Energy Agency (IEA) confirmed that electricity demand trends have already been impacted by data centres and other key AI infrastructure requirements.

“There is no AI without energy,” he said, noting that “thousands” of data centres are going to be built. “This is the challenge for governments to find electricity in a clean way, in a sustainable way and in an affordable way.”