{"id":32818,"date":"2017-10-12T21:10:25","date_gmt":"2017-10-12T21:10:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/?p=32818"},"modified":"2018-04-22T11:49:57","modified_gmt":"2018-04-22T15:49:57","slug":"humanoid-robot-joins-un-meeting-on-artificial-intelligence-sustainable-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/blog\/2017\/10\/humanoid-robot-joins-un-meeting-on-artificial-intelligence-sustainable-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Humanoid robot joins Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ meeting on artificial intelligence, sustainable development"},"content":{"rendered":"

Artificial intelligence has the potential to accelerate progress on global development goals, but also poses a range of complex challenges, including ethical questions, human rights issues and security risks, speakers told a United Nations event today that featured a robot as one of the panellists.<\/p>\n

A moment that drew big applause during the day-long event, \u2018The future of everything<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 sustainable development in the age of rapid technological change,\u2019 came when Sophia, a humanoid robot, had brief interaction with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed.<\/p>\n

To Ms. Mohammed\u2019s question about what the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ can do to help people in many parts of the world who have no access to the Internet or electricity, Sophia said \u201cthe future is already here. It\u2019s just not very evenly distributed [\u2026],\u201d quoting renowned science fiction writer William Gibson. \u201cIf we are smarter and focused on win-win type of results, A.I. [artificial intelligence] could help proficiently distribute the world\u2019s existing resources like food and energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sophia is Hanson Robotics\u2019 latest and most advanced robot. Sophia has also become a media sensation, having given numerous interviews to multiple media outlets, performed in concert, and even graced the cover of one of the top fashion magazines.<\/p>\n

In her\u00a0opening speech<\/a>, Ms. Mohammed warned that despite profound potential for accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs<\/a>), if technological progress is not managed well, it risks exacerbating existing inequalities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe influence of technology on our societies should be determined by the actions of us, humans, not by machines,\u201d she said. \u201cTechnology is here for us to explore and use for the benefit of all.\u201d<\/p>\n

The meeting was co-organized by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly\u2019s main economic and financial body (Second Committee<\/a>).<\/p>\n

ECOSOC President Marie Chatardov\u00e1 said that the long-term consequences of the deep technological changes underway, for economies and societies at large, are unknown.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are only starting to see the benefits, but we do need to assess the risks of these technologies,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Sven J\u00fcrgenson, of Estonia, Second Committee Chairman, said that AI-based solutions are taking his country\u2019s digital society to the next level.<\/p>\n

He said the Government is working on a full legal and cyber-risk management framework for using fully autonomous vehicles in regular road and traffic conditions. And door-to-door robot transport will reshape how goods are shipped and delivered locally.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, Internet access is a social right in Estonia. Every Estonian resident has an electronic ID and nearly all public services are accessible online, including i-Voting in Estonian Parliamentary elections,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe development of e-Estonia has not happened in one day \u2013 it took us 17 years to start from changing legislation and creating our first e-solutions,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Via Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ News Centre<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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