AI risks left unchecked, expert warns ahead of UN report

A top computer scientist has called for increased dialogue about the global governance of artificial intelligence to harness its potential for the good of humanity.

Dame Wendy Hall was speaking ahead of the release of a report about the future of the technology by the United Nation’s AI high-level advisory body.

The University of Southampton Regius Professor of Computer Science is a key contributor to the UN report , which has published a series of recommendations about the development of AI globally.

Dame Wendy, who is the only British expert on the UN body, said: “We are already seeing the impact of AI breakthroughs across health, energy controls, food production, education.

“Artificial intelligence must be allowed to develop for the good of humanity – but, without governance, it has potential to evolve in ways that would be harmful to society.

“At the very least, we hope this report will stimulate meaningful conversations and debate about global governance.”

Dame Wendy joined 31 other experts on the UN’s advisory body, which was set up in 2023 to analyse the international governance of AI.

Its final recommendations, published in the Governing AI for Humanity report, outline areas that experts say will “reap the benefits of AI” while “minimising and mitigating the risks.” These include:

• establishing a global dialogue among the major nations developing AI
• creating an AI standards charter that establishes regulation
• launching a fund to support countries in the global south to benefit from AI
• creating an Office for AI – born out of the UN’s AI advisory body

Dame Wendy also warned that some countries risk being “left behind” if the tech remains unregulated.

She added: “Current global efforts to establish AI governance are insufficient.

"We desperately need a global approach that will address the challenges of AI and ensure that it benefits everyone - not just the few nations leading its development.”

Dame Wendy, the director of the Web Science Institute , has been at the forefront of computer science development for 40 years from Southampton.

The University itself was recently awarded millions of pounds to lead UK plans to become an AI powerhouse through the Responsible AI UK programme , which is working to develop safe and trustworthy artificial intelligence.

Dame Wendy is also the theme lead for Data, Health and Society at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre .

Read the UN report at www.un.org/en/ai-advisory-body .