Missing Links in AI Governance

Over the next decade, Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) will continue to significantly impact societies. While these scientific and technological advances take place at an extraordinary pace, it is necessary that we simultaneously stimulate a global and inclusive conversation around their development and governance. It is in this context that Mila and UNESCO joined forces to steer a collective work to identify and understand missing links in AI governance. This publication is a compilation of 18 selected submissions from a global open call for proposals launched in 2021. The works featured cross disciplinary and geographical boundaries, and include the perspectives of academics, civil society representatives, and innovators to help shift the conversation on AI from what we do know and foresee to what we do not, the missing links.

IRCAI in its article believes that artificial intelligence (AI) and data are fundamental to building the trustworthiness and evidence of measurable progress against the SDGs. We are already seeing examples of how clearly defined and measurable outcomes can unlock investment to solve the SDGs. For example, clear outcome metrics and data collection underpinned a $10 million outcomes contract to address rural sanitation in Cambodia (SDG Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all). Therefore, we have designed a manifesto that calls on NGOs, the UN, companies, investors and countries to collaboratively build a robust, accessible and transparent system for measuring and certifying attainment of the SDGs. Together, we can build the AI and data ecosystem to create trust and enable investors, companies and governments to demonstrate progress, secure investment, and ultimately, change the world.

IRCAI also made a valuable contribution to this publication. Here is our chapter on AI on monitoring sustainable development: