DiploFoundation

Having the Co-chairs summary drafted in a way that captures concrete suggestions made during the discussions on ways to advance (inclusive) international cooperation on AI governance.

AI capacity-building;

The need for new skills and knowledge is often highlighted as the main challenge for AI transformation. Capacity development spans from understanding AI among political and business elites to adjusting professions that will be affected by AI developments. AI's probabilistic nature requires a new pedagogical approach, which Diplo has put in practice through two flagship programmes. Our Diplo Academy course on AI Technology, Policy and Governance - offered since 2019 - has helped diplomats, policymakers, and other stakeholders grasp - in particular from developing and least developed countries - the technical underpinnings of AI and its policy implications, and equipped them with the knowledge needed to meaningfully contribute to AI-related policy processes at national, regional and international levels. (https://www.diplomacy.edu/course/ai-tech-policy-governance/) In addition, our AI Apprenticeship Programme - launched in 2024 - offers a hands-on approach to learning about generative AI by integrating both theoretical and practical components. In the theoretical section, participants gain a thorough understanding of key AI concepts, while the practical segment, delivered in an apprenticeship style, allows them to apply this knowledge by creating their own generative AI tools (assistants, agents). A tailored version of the Apprenticeship Programme was designed for International Organisations, and it aims to help participants leverage their expertise in areas such as diplomacy, international relations, and digital governance to create AI tools that will help optimise their daily work and develop skills essential to leadership in AI governance and diplomacy. Diplo's AI apprenticeship pedagogy has demonstrated in practice that knowledge of AI can be acquired through the development of necessary AI skills. The programme also helps raise awareness about the importance of bottom-up AI - AI systems/tools developed within organisations, leveraging institutional and individual knowledge and expertise. (https://www.diplomacy.edu/course/ai-apprenticeship/ and https://www.diplomacy.edu/course/ai-apprenticeship-geneva/ and https://www.diplomacy.edu/apprenticeship-for-the-ai-era/)

Bottom-up AI and the importance of protecting, preserving, and leveraging individual and institutional knowledge to the benefit of the owners of such knowledge. What we witness today - but do not talk about enough - is a shift in the battleground for AI supremacy: The race hinges not only on amassing powerful chips, but on unlocking something far more valuable: human knowledge. Companies are focusing more and more effort on amassing 'new', untapped data and knowledge, for instance from local communities and developing and least developed countries, with implications for the protection of such data and knowledge, and the ability of individuals, communities, and countries to leverage these resources to their own benefit. At the same time, communities, cities, and nations that activate localised data - cultural insights, industry-specific expertise, and public-sector innovation - will gain the edge. More focused discussions not only on governance of data, but also on governance and protection of knowledge are therefore needed. (It is also worth noting that early WSIS documents highlighted the importance of knowledge in the ICT space, while in recent years the policy discussions have focused on data only.) More at the links below: https://www.diplomacy.edu/blog/how-david-outwits-goliath-in-the-age-of-ai/ and https://www.diplomacy.edu/blog/to-foster-human-freedom-and-prosperity-artificial-intelligence-must-be-developed-bottom-up/

In policy and governance spaces, programmes designed to build AI-related capacities tend to leave aside the technological side. At Diplo, we believe that a basic understanding of how AI works is also necessary for diplomats and policymakers to be properly equipped to discuss policy and governance issues. This is reflected in the AI-related capacity development programmes mentioned before.

At the moment, many AI governance related conversations are unfolding across various entities and organisations within the UN System dealing with specific issues such as technical standards (ITU, ISO, IEC), telecommunications (ITU), health (WHO), intellectual property (WIPO), work (ILO), human rights (HRC, OHCHR), and development, commerce, and trade (CSTD, UNCTAD, WTO), among other issues. Yet, these conversations are sometimes siloed, and not always visible beyond the organisations where they unfold. The Dialogue could contribute to raising more awareness about these conversations (among UN member states, as well as among other stakeholders), as well as to fostering more linkages among them and between them and other AI governance processes beyond the UN.

As noted above, the dialogue would help foster more synergies among AI governance discussions happening across the UN System, while also offering a space to discuss coordination challenges in the evolving global AI governance architecture.

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Educators, philosophers, theologicians, and other professionals who can help broaden AI governance conversations towards deeper questions of meaning, dignity, responsibility, and the kind of societies we want AI to contribute to. More engagement of local and indigenous communities would also be welcomed, as their perspectives could help ensure that AI governance discussions are grounded into realities and respond to concrete challenges and needs at a community level.

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