The United Nations has released a report on Governing AI for Humanity. It’s daunting because the topic is daunting, but the report is easy to read. They start by recognizing that one of the tasks is getting everyone to the table. AI has the power to make our jobs easier and harder, to create and eliminate jobs, to bring us together and push us apart. It fascinating and it can feel like science fiction but it’s no longer on the doorstep, it’s in our living rooms. What we can do to prepare our communities is to learn as much as we can and start conversations with diverse communities. Holding classes on understanding or implementing AI might be just as popular in senior living spaces as the schools.

I’ve pulled out the UN’s recommendations to get folks thinking about AI and perhaps thinking about what needs to happen at the local level to help your community benefit from the powers of AI…

Recommendation 1 An international scientific panel on AI
We recommend the creation of an independent international scientific panel on AI, made up of diverse multidisciplinary experts in the field serving in their personal capacity on a voluntary basis.

Recommendation 2 Policy dialogue on AI governance
We recommend the launch of a twice-yearly intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on AI governance on the margins of existing meetings at the United Nations.

Recommendation 3 AI standards exchange
We recommend the creation of an AI standards exchange, bringing together representatives from national and international standard-development organizations, technology companies, civil society and representatives from the international scientific panel.

Recommendation 4 Capacity development network
We recommend the creation of an AI capacity development network to link up a set of collaborating, United Nations-affiliated capacity development centres making available expertise, compute and AI training data to key actors.

Recommendation 5 Global fund for AI
We recommend the creation of a global fund for AI to put a floor under the AI divide.

Recommendation 6 Global AI data framework
We recommend the creation of a global AI data framework, developed through a process initiated by a relevant agency such as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and informed by the work of other international organizations

Recommendation 7 AI office within the Secretariat
We recommend the creation of an AI office within the Secretariat, reporting to the Secretary[1]General. It should be light and agile in organization, drawing, wherever possible, on relevant existing United Nations entities. Acting as the “glue” that supports and catalyzes the proposals in this report, partnering and interfacing with other processes and institutions

I also chose a graphic that piqued my interest…