AI Law - International Review of Artificial Intelligence Law
G. Giappichelli Editore

08/06/2024 - Artificial Intelligence and the Challenge for Global Governance (UK)

argument: Notizie/News - Administrative Law

  • According to multiple articles from Chatham House, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) poses significant challenges and opportunities for global governance. The rapid development and integration of AI across various sectors have outpaced the regulatory frameworks designed to govern such technologies, creating a pressing need for updated policies and ethical guidelines.

    AI technologies, encompassing narrow AI systems like machine learning algorithms, have shown transformative potential in fields such as healthcare, education, public transport, and climate change mitigation. However, these advancements also come with risks, including exacerbating societal inequalities, perpetuating biases, and threatening individual freedoms through enhanced surveillance capabilities​.

    A central concern is the "pacing problem," where the speed of technological innovation surpasses the ability of policymakers to implement effective regulations. This gap often results in superficial regulations that fail to address the deep structural issues posed by AI. Effective governance requires not only technical understanding but also inclusive and anticipatory policy-making that considers the transnational nature of technology and its applications​. The European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) are beginning to address these challenges with proposed regulations like the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act, which aims to implement a risk-based approach. This includes banning high-risk AI applications and ensuring human oversight for critical AI uses. The UK's focus on creating an AI assurance industry to certify AI systems also marks a proactive step towards responsible AI governance​. Human rights play a crucial role in AI governance. Many existing governance frameworks have overlooked the importance of human rights, leading to calls for their integration to ensure that AI systems uphold fundamental freedoms and dignity. Regulatory bodies and institutions are urged to adopt human rights-based approaches to mitigate ethical risks and provide accountability for AI deployments​. The article concludes that the effective governance of AI requires a collaborative effort from governments, private sectors, and civil society. This includes developing robust ethical standards, conducting comprehensive impact assessments, and fostering international cooperation to ensure AI technologies are harnessed for the public good and do not perpetuate existing inequalities or create new forms of injustice​.