With the spread of rumors and the distortion of facts, the boundary between true and false has become blurred. This is undermining the very foundations of our societies and democracies and putting lives at risk through the propagation of conspiracy theories, or the spread of hate speech. Focusing on digital spaces in this year's edition of Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2023, will give the opportunity to explore paths for strengthening multilateral cooperation with digital platforms and other stakeholders in integrating media and information literacy into policies.

As we approach the halfway mark of the 2030 Agenda, the science is clear: the Planet is far off track from meeting its climate goals, and immediate and unprecedented reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are needed, says the United in Science Report 2023. Launched ahead of the SDG Summit and Climate Ambition Summit at the United Nations General Assembly, the multi-agency report systematically assesses the impact of climate change and extreme weather events on the Agenda's goals.

Humans and AI complement each other, opening new opportunities for economic growth, production, health care, education, communication, and transportation. UNDP recognizes AI’s potential as well as its risks and are optimizing its use to advance the SDGs. Ethical and responsible artificial intelligence is an accelerator for sustainable development and already is affecting so many aspects of our lives. It is important to ensure fairness and transparency in the design and use of AI, clarify legal responsibility and liability in cases of harm caused by AI, as well as address the intellectual property implications.

The digital transformation, the exponential spread of digital technologies, digitalization and the use of digital technologies to add value, offer an opportunity to develop and deliver tailored and innovative services to both migrants and communities.

Artificial Intelligence may be the buzzword of the day, but before we know it, two new concepts may soon steal the limelight: Disruptive-tech and Artificial General Intelligence. That’s according to Janet Adams, chief operating officer of AI experts SingularityNet, who maintains that these up-and-coming technologies have massive potential to combat inequality, in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda. To find out more, UN News's Elma Okic caught up with Ms. Adams at the AI For Good Summit in Geneva earlier this month.

UNESCO published its AI Readiness Assessment Methodology, a diagnostic tool to support governments in ensuring Artificial Intelligence is developed and deployed ethically, in line with its Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.   

The IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) seeks to inspire young women to pursue a career in the nuclear field through scholarships for students studying nuclear related subjects as well as internship opportunities.

Digital technology has become a fundamental force for change in this century. It is reshaping economies, government, and the very fabric of our communities – touching nearly every facet of our lives. And since 2015, countries have harnessed digital technology to accelerate progress towards achieving of the SDGs by 2030. The 17 SDGs are all getting a boost from the latest in digital strategies. UNDP shows how in the last seven years, digitalization has emerged as a veritable keystone, showing enormous potential to unlock the many complex, interwoven challenges addressed in the SDGs.

AI governance should be a global community dialogue. Now is the critical moment to get it right and ensure a responsible future with AI.

We have less than 10 years to solve the United Nations SDGs and AI holds great promise to advance many of the goals and targets. The AI for Good Global Summit is the leading action-oriented UN platform promoting AI to advance health, climate, gender, inclusive prosperity, sustainable infrastructure, and other global development priorities. AI for Good is organized by ITU – the UN specialized agency for information and communication technology – in partnership with 40 UN sister agencies and co-convened with the government of Switzerland. The hybrid event takes place on 6-7 July in Geneva.

As AI technologies become increasingly sophisticated, they will transform industries, streamline processes and may even impact how we live our lives including the nuclear sector. AI has shown its potential to benefit people who use nuclear technology for peaceful ends. It will not replace the workforce but rather it will establish resources and insights that will make early detection and response in computer security realistically achievable. IAEA highlights how to adopt AI technologies effectively and proactively by embracing the benefits while addressing its risks.

The 2023 five laureates of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards include women scientists with contributions in the Physical sciences, Mathematics and Computer science.

In response to the rapid emergence of new and powerful AI tools, UNESCO held the first global meeting to explore the immediate and far-reaching opportunities, challenges and risks of AI in education.

Since the launch of Chat GPT in November 2022, artificial intelligence (AI) has been dominating headlines, sparking excitement but also concern over the pace at which the technology is developing and driving misinformation.

The UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, Amandeep Gill, is busy working on a Global Digital Compact to be adopted at the UN’s Summit of the Future in 2024 – a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity for leaders to agree on common principles for addressing tech challenges.

Ahead of Wednesday’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, he has been talking to UN News’s Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer about using AI for good, why it’s not too late to regulate, and how getting AI governance right will be important for multilateralism itself.

Audio Credit: Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer, UN News - Geneva

Photo Credit: UN News/Srdjan Slavkovic

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has attracted massive hype, including fears that it will be impossible to regulate or control. It's already creating, destroying and re-shaping jobs and business practices. So how will AI really affect the world of work? Can it help to address any of the big problems we currently face such as inequality, stagnant productivity and inadequate fundamental rights? And how can businesses and workers prepare to avoid the pitfalls of AI and make the most of the benefits it offers? 

Antonio Casilli, one of the co-founders of the INDL and Stacie Haller, Chief Career Advisor at ResumeBuilder(dot)com explore the possibilities together with  Sophy Fisher, ILO's Senior Communication and Public Information Officer.

Photo: iStock.com/gorodenkoff