UN rights chief urges moratorium on AI that risks rights abuses
Al Jazeera
Artificial intelligence systems are used to determine who gets public services and decide who has a chance to be recruited for a job, the UN rights chief said, warning that data collected can be compromised, out of date and even discriminatory.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday called for a moratorium on the sale and use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems that threaten human rights until adequate safeguards are in place to ensure the technology will not be abused.
“We cannot afford to continue playing catch-up regarding AI – allowing its use with limited or no boundaries or oversight, and dealing with the almost inevitable human rights consequences after the fact,” Bachelet said in a press release.
The UN human rights office released a report on Wednesday warning of the risks of AI technologies, and emphasising that while AI can serve as a force for good, it can also cause catastrophic effects if used irresponsibly.
