ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin's
Opening Remarks at
Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG) Meeting
[As prepared for delivery]
Chairman Abdulrahman Al Hassan,
TSB Director Onoe-San,
BDT Director Cosmas Zavazava,
Colleagues and friends,
We have 78 days to go!
WTSA-24 (the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly) comes at a time when standards are taking centre stage in global governance discussions.
When countries will come together at the UN Summit of the Future in search of solutions to humanity's common challenges.
And when the Sustainable Development Goals are desperately off track.
We are standing in a moment — some have called it “a fragile and special moment" — where realizing the true value of standards is more important than ever to foster inclusion and trust in digital and emerging technologies.
Nowhere is this more true than with artificial intelligence.
When UN Secretary-General António Guterres was on this stage just a few weeks ago, he highlighted ITU's leadership role as a neutral platform for all parties to develop common technical standards and a level playing field for innovation.
The UN Secretary-General told the ITU Council that harmonizing AI standards will be crucial for both regulators and the industry.
Warning that fragmentation would especially harm developing countries and small businesses.
This was on display throughout our recent AI for Good Global Summit.
One of the Summit's key outcomes was the launch of a new collaboration initiative to develop comprehensive standards for AI watermarking, multimedia authenticity, and deepfake detection.
Policymakers are moving fast to address deepfakes — and we're working hard to provide them with the essential technical tools they need.
Hopes and fears around AI have created greater awareness of the role that standards play in driving global technological progress.
That's why, at our first AI Governance Day in May, all the ministers, regulators, and leaders from the UN, industry, and academia made it clear that they want interoperability among technology platforms and regulatory approaches — and international technical standards to support these frameworks.
This is also why standards feature prominently in the recent UN System White Paper on AI governance, led by ITU and UNESCO.
This progress must lead to responsible AI.
It must lead to universal connectivity and sustainable digital transformation — our two strategic goals.
It must lead to a better life for all.
Dear colleagues,
Expectations for ITU standardization work are higher than ever.
And all eyes will be on us at WTSA.
I want to thank India once again for hosting us.
It's our first WTSA in Asia — an excellent opportunity to celebrate the strong and growing support that ITU enjoys from countries in Asia and the Pacific.
Our objective is to ensure that we are well-positioned to meet emerging standardization demands from a growing range of stakeholders.
This calls for well-crafted structure, strategy, and working methods — which will be in focus at this meeting of TSAG.
Strong industry engagement; upholding human rights; bridging development divides and gender divides; welcoming the next generation of consensus builders; partnerships for global impact.
I'm glad to see these key issues among your top priorities.
I can say the same of resilience and sustainability.
Applauding you for the key role that our standards sector plays in our partnerships for resilience to natural hazards and green digital action.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Next year ITU will mark our 160th anniversary.
Standards have guided us through one technological revolution after another.
With every breakthrough, we have come together to develop the standards required to thrive in new frontiers.
That's what our standardization processes are built for.
Together, we build mutual trust and understanding − creating the confidence to continue innovating and investing.
I'm encouraged to see more stakeholders involved in this critical work than ever before.
Going forward, our work must be efficient, effective, and focused on global impact.
Our platform must be attractive to all expert communities.
And our trusted standards must help everyone to benefit from the latest advances in technology.
WTSA is a key opportunity to strengthen our efforts.
Because the decisions we make now will resonate and impact generations to come.
