AI Connect II webinar: Sustainable development and inclusive growth of AI

Opinions expressed by invited speakers or program participants do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the US government, its affiliates, or the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center.

The webinar discussed propelling sustainable development alongside AI innovation. Panel participants included Abhishek Gupta, founder and principal researcher at the Montreal AI Ethics Institute; Golestan (Sally) Radwan, chief digital officer at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP); and Leila Elmergawi, senior advisor for critical and emerging technology at the US Department of State, moderated by GeoTech Associate Director and Resident Fellow Trisha Ray.

Gupta initiated the discussion by highlighting the current efforts to align AI development and deployment with the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). He emphasized the dual nature of AI—while it presents significant opportunities to tackle sustainability challenges, unsustainable AI infrastructure can exacerbate climate change. Gupta underscored the need to prioritize local well-being and resource usage awareness amidst AI advancements. In addition, Gupta referenced his work on the Montreal AI Ethics Institute’s AI Ethics Living Dictionary, which aims to bridge the gap in terminology across different domains as AI expands across disciplines. Radwan echoed the need for a consensus on terminology, both across various domains of expertise and within the AI community itself. In addition, she noted the limited incentive for private sector involvement in sustainability efforts, as well as the public sector’s overly optimistic view of AI’s societal potential. To that end, she introduced the Coalition for Digital Environmental Security (CODES), which works to leverage AI for sustainable development while addressing community concerns such as e-waste management. Similarly, Elmergawi stressed the importance of cooperation and shared definitions between the public and private sectors. She highlighted ongoing US initiatives to partner with tech companies, which aim to establish opt-in AI safety standards and promote infrastructural and societal advancement. At the international level, she cited the recent US-led UN resolution on safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems as a strong step in shaping global sustainable development on AI.

When discussing the importance of internationally binding legislation on AI, Elmergawi and Radwan proposed that regionally focused, voluntary agreements were more feasible, especially considering evolving understanding around AI. The panel recognized the challenges of enforcing legally binding agreements given the diversity of infrastructural capacities across countries. Elmergawi emphasized the importance of increased private sector involvement, given private expertise on individual and low-level technological needs. Radwan also highlighted the hurdles in both obtaining UN approval for multilaterally binding processes and ensuring member states fulfill these broad international commitments. In lieu of pushing for internationally binding agreements at present, Gupta advocated for stronger commitments from international summits. He emphasized the importance of translating agreed-upon theoretical principles into practical actions. At a minimum, these summits should establish clear review processes to strive for tangible results. Final comments from the panel emphasized that discussions on responsible AI must prioritize inclusivity and collaboration among stakeholders to ensure sustainable development and deployment of AI technologies.

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