THE Second UNESCO Ministerial Summit on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Latin America and the Caribbean was held in Montevideo (Uruguay) on October 3 and 4.
The Summit, organized on this occasion by UNESCO, FAC And Agesiccontinued the work initiated by the first ministerial summit held in Santiago, Chile in October 2023, and strengthened regional commitment to AI ethics.
On this occasion, its objective was to advance in the design of public policies for AI in an ethical manner for Latin America, aligned with the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. This recommendation was approved in 2021 and promotes a comprehensive approach to the responsible use of AI, for the benefit of people and sustainable development, adopted by 195 Member States.
The summit brought together high-level representatives from more than 20 countries, as well as representatives from the private sector. During the summit, regulatory and governance initiatives for AI were discussed. AI governance and regulatory initiatives already in place and strengthen regional cooperation in this area. He also discussed how to ensure the design and implementation of appropriate public policies that maximize opportunities for artificial intelligence and minimize its risks. and minimize its potential risks. Progress was also made in establishing a regional work program and defining common strategies for more responsible development of AI.
Latin America committed to the development of responsible and ethical AI
To this end, two key documents were adopted: on the one hand, the Montevideo Declarationwhich confirms the region’s commitment to the development of AI that protects human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy. On the other handa regional roadmap for AIwith 5 priority lines of action to be implemented over the next 12 months on (1) governance and regulation, (2) talent and the future of work, (3) protection of vulnerable groups, (4) ) environment, (5) sustainability and Climate change and infrastructure.
Implementation of the Roadmap will be led by governments in the region and the AI Working Group, with support from UNESCO and CAF, ensuring effective coordination with other initiatives. Mechanisms will also be put in place to monitor and evaluate progress every six months, promoting the visibility of actions and the participation of the different actors involved.
Concrete actions include the development of a methodology for designing regulatory proposals, the creation of a framework for AI literacy and the development of studies on the impact of AI in different areas such as discrimination in public safety and environmental risks.
Ethical training in AI: an essential pillar of successful AI development
For its part, the private sector is also progressing through UNESCO Business Council on AI Ethicsco-chaired by Telefónica and Microsoft. Several companies came together at this summit to assess how the private sector can actively contribute to closing AI training and skills gaps to ensure the implementation of responsible AI in the region, so that the technology or at the service of people and not the other way around.
Alongside representatives from other companies such as Microsoft, Salesforce, Lenovo and the GSMA, Leticia Lago, Director of Public Affairs and Wholesale Services at Telefónica Uruguay, attended the meeting and presented the the company’s responsible AI strategy. In 2018, Telefónica pioneered the adoption of responsible AI principles and the design of an innovative governance model for AI ethics to lead by example.
Another essential pillar for the adoption of responsible AI is training people in ethical AI. To this end, Leticia commented on the training opportunities for employees through professional retraining and the recently launched program Skills bank platformwhich allows us to improve our skills in a personalized way, adapted to the profile of each employee, thanks to this technology. She also commented on the presence in Uruguay of the Digital Center of Excellencea global service hub that brings AI closer to the region’s entire ecosystem.
This training should also be extended to society as a whole. To this end, he presented the Hackathons program, focused on identifying and developing AI skills, as well as Job cardan AI-based tool that Telephone Foundation makes it available to people to promote their employability and the adoption of digital skills for free.
Public-private partnership for ethical training in AI
During the debateIt was agreed that a call to action should be made to all stakeholders involved in promoting AI, both governments and businesses, to work together:
- Training and employability opportunities in this area are publicized.
- Training citizens in the skills required for employment is encouraged, by providing the necessary tools and providing support through tutoring and mentoring.
- Collaborate so that, once trained and, where appropriate, certified, these citizens can be reintegrated or integrated into the world of work, connecting them with effective employment opportunities.
In order to create a society based on responsible AI solutions, it is essential to have a public policy framework that includes ethical principles, as recommended by UNESCO since 2021 and other more recent initiatives of the UNESCO. The United NationsTHE OECD or the European Commission.
But it is also essential to have people trained and educated in this new disruptive technology like AI. To this end, we must work together, from the public to the private sector, through public-private partnerships, to harness the opportunities of AI and reduce the risks, while protecting the most fundamental rights of our society. Only in this way can we all work together to build a successful and inclusive digital transformation that is people-centered, values-based and benefits everyone.
