Visionaries and robots coming together for the good of all
By ITU News
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues sprouting new, more powerful learning abilities, countries around the world are working on the policies and strategies to govern it.
Governments and industry leaders have recognized the need to reach out to each other more than ever before as they look for the common blueprint for humanity to prosper in a machine-assisted future.
This week’s AI for Good Global Summit will connect AI innovators and visionaries with an array of United Nations (UN) organizations and investors focused on sustainable development.
The premier global AI event, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland, and online on 6-7 July, promises to become a transformative gathering of global thought leaders and innovators committed to driving positive change.
“We have to engage and ensure a responsible future with AI,” explained ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin during the run-up to the Global Summit.
Last week at a pre-summit media roundtable, leaders from the UN, industry, and academia addressed questions on global AI governance. This week’s event should advance global dialogue across civil society, academia, and the private sector, as well as among governments and UN agencies, Bogdan-Martin said.
The Global Summit will feature live question-and-answer sessions with AI visionaries like Sapiens author Yuval Hariri and inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil.
With more than 4000 people set to attend in-person and another 3000 expected to participate online, the UN-driven event provides an unprecedented chance to empower AI innovators to tackle global challenges.
Robots enhancing social good
One new and exciting aspect is the presence of innovative robots – more than 50 of them (51 to be exact) including 9 humanoid robots – equipped to help people in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Robots, for instance, can support people’s health and well-being, provide high-quality educational services, reduce inequalities by helping persons with disabilities, reduce waste, help build resilient infrastructure, and broadly enhance social good. Others are transforming food preparation to ensure health and sustainability while avoiding food waste.
Assistive robots are transforming human lives in multiple ways. Using machine learning and AI, these robots offer support in mobility, communication, self-care, and other essential daily tasks, giving people who need it renewed confidence and autonomy.
Other robots are designed to tackle broader social and environmental challenges. In the face of rising climate risks and other disasters, specialized disaster-assistance robots are revolutionizing emergency response.
Amid global population growth, robots could also become key allies for humanity in addressing long-term development challenges.
Efficient construction robots, for instance, could pave the way to providing sustainable and affordable housing for everyone. Robots focused on transforming urban logistics and transportation, meanwhile, could lay the groundwork for greener, safer, and more inclusive living in the megacities of the future.
All these and more will be featured at the summit’s Robotics for Good exhibition and on social media channels with the hashtags #AIforGood #ITUaiSummit.
