ISLAMABAD: Promi­nent rights activist Nighat Dad has joined the United Nations secretary general’s advisory board on Artificial Intelligence to “address the overarching theme of addressing global governance of AI”.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the creation of the 39-member advisory body on Thursday.

“For developing economies, AI offers the possibility of leapfrogging outdated technologies and bringing services directly to people where needs are bigger and for the people that need them most,” Mr Guterres said.

The board’s interim recommendations by the end of the year will focus on three main areas: international governance of AI, generative AI and shared understanding of risks and challenges associated with deploying these technologies.

A statement by the UN said the body’s immediate tasks would include building a global scientific consensus on risks and challenges, helping harness AI for the Sustainable Development Goals, and strengthening international cooperation on AI governance.

It will stress the need for UN member states to act deliberately and quickly on existing and upcoming governance structures linked with the adoption of AI.

While developing AI governance mechanisms for member states, the board, over the course of years, will assist and facilitate the implementation of these mechanisms from a human and digital rights perspective.

In a statement, Ms Dad stressed the importance of recognising potential human rights issues that may affect marginalised communities worldwide due to new technologies.

Ms Dad is also the executive director of Digital Ri­­­ghts Foundation, an NGO focusing on ICTs to sup­­port human rights, inclusivity, and digital governance.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2023