Welcome remarks | 30 May

Alexander Fasel Advocates for Equitable AI to Advance Global Sustainable Development Goals at Geneva Summit

In a pivotal summit held in Geneva, Alexander Fasel delivered a compelling speech that emphasised the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a representative of Switzerland, a country at the cutting edge of technological development, Fasel highlighted the importance of the summit in bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders to promote the practical application of AI towards achieving the SDGs.

Fasel acknowledged the significant influence AI has on society, the economy, and international politics, showcasing its potential in addressing climate change, and enhancing education and healthcare systems. However, he raised a pressing concern regarding the uneven distribution of AI resources, such as data, algorithms, computing power, and human expertise. He warned that without intervention, these disparities could exacerbate the digital divide, leaving certain regions and countries at a disadvantage in the digital revolution.

To combat these inequalities, Fasel outlined Switzerland’s proactive initiatives, including the establishment of the International Computational and AI Network Initiative (ICAIN) unveiled in January at the World Economic Forum in Davos. This initiative, a collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich and Lausanne, as well as other global partners, is designed to democratise AI research and ensure that AI solutions are seen as serving the global public good. ICAIN’s objectives include facilitating access to AI resources like supercomputers and promoting AI solutions that benefit the entire world.

Fasel also shed light on Switzerland’s dedication to ensuring that AI governance adheres to democratic principles and human rights. He referenced the Convention on AI, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law, which was successfully negotiated and concluded under Swiss leadership at the Council of Europe. He emphasised that this convention is open to all countries worldwide. Additionally, Switzerland is actively working within the United Nations towards the adoption of the Global Digital Compact, which will feature provisions on AI.

Concluding his address, Fasel reminded the audience that AI for Good is an ongoing, perpetual initiative, not limited to a single event. It is a year-round digital platform and a global movement with its foundation in Geneva, aiming for worldwide reach and impact. He stressed the importance of continuous collaboration and engagement across the globe to ensure that AI for Good remains a dynamic force in shaping a more inclusive and equitable digital future.

Fasel’s speech served as both a comprehensive overview of Switzerland’s contributions to AI initiatives and a rallying cry for the global community to engage in ethical, inclusive AI development and governance. His message underscored the necessity for international cooperation in leveraging AI for the greater good, while vigilantly tackling the issues of inequality and upholding human rights and democratic values.

Alexandar Fasel:
Madame la Secrétaire Générale, Mesdames et Messieurs, Bienvenue à Genève. Since 2017, this summit brings together various stakeholders committed to develop concrete implementation of AI for the SDGs. Switzerland is a proud co-host alongside ITU in partnership with many UN agencies and other partners. Artificial intelligence is one of the key technologies of our time. It already has a lasting impact on society, on the economy and on world politics. And you will today and tomorrow witness many positive use cases for fighting climate change, enhancing education or health. However, we have to recognize that not all regions or countries have the same access and resources needed to implement AI projects. There are major disparities in access to data, to algorithms, to computing power, to human expertise which form the material and immaterial components of AI. If we do not work to change this, artificial intelligence will widen the digital gap. To help address these disparities, Switzerland has launched, last January in Davos at the World Economic Forum, the International Computational and AI Network Initiative, ICAIN, together with the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology of Zurich and of Lausanne and with other international partners. This is, I believe, a shining example of Swiss science diplomacy, as is the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator, GESTA, which is also concerned with advanced AI. But back to ICAIN, ICAIN wants to ensure that as many voices as possible are heard in AI research and that AI solutions for use cases are perceived to serve global public goods and are available to the entire planet, for instance through access to supercomputers. You will hear more about that project later today in a dedicated session. But as a short teaser, can I say that launching such a project would not have been possible without the richness of the Swiss AI ecosystem, and in particular the innovation capabilities that exist in our universities. Ensuring that AI respects democratic principles as well as human rights is a broader task of the global community. This is why Switzerland has engaged in various multilateral processes over the years for the governance of AI. And in this regard, I would like to highlight the Convention on AI, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, which was successfully negotiated and concluded under the auspices of the Council of Europe under Swiss chairmanship. And I would like to stress and to remind everyone that this is a global convention which is open to all countries around the world. In addition, we are now in the UN, of course, working actively for the adoption of the Global Digital Compact, which will include provisions on AI. In this regard, International Geneva’s institutions stand ready to implement and to monitor the Global Digital Compact. The WSIS Summit, as well as the AI for Good Summit, are examples of transversal United Nations collaborations that are useful blueprints for AI governance. Dear colleagues, after this summit, we will all go home to the four corners of this globe. But we need to remind ourselves that AI for Good never sleeps. It is always online. AI for Good is not a one-off event. It is a year-round digital platform on which we can connect and work together. And AI for Good is like a movement, rather, a movement that is based in Geneva, but that has a global ambition and a global outreach. And with that, I say to you, thank you for your interest and good work.