In a significant diplomatic victory for China, the United Nations General Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution that calls for the creation of a “free, open, inclusive and non-discriminatory” business environment for artificial intelligence development among wealthy and developing nations. The non-binding resolution, co-sponsored by over 140 nations, including the United States, emphasizes the need for global cooperation to assist developing countries facing unique challenges and ensure they are not left behind. China’s permanent representative to the UN, Fu Cong, hailed the resolution as a significant step towards bridging the gap between developed and developing countries in AI technology. The resolution is seen as a pushback against the US dominance in setting global standards for AI and a move towards more inclusive governance of the technology.
The adoption of the resolution marks a significant shift in the global approach to AI governance, with China emerging as a key player in shaping the agenda. The resolution’s emphasis on inclusive business environment and capacity building is seen as a counter to the US approach, which has been criticized for being overly restrictive and dominated by Western interests. China’s initiative has been praised for its efforts to incorporate voices from the developing world into discussions on managing AI.
