Carme Artigas, who was Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Spain, was one of the speakers at the 33rd APDC Congress, which took place in Lisbon.

In October last year, the Secretary-General of the United Nations launched a high-level multi-stakeholder advisory body on AI, which brings together representatives from the Global North, Global South, academia, the private sector and policy makers, to help him on issues of AI and the future of its global governance.

"In total, there are 39 people representing 32 countries, each working in their personal capacity," says Carme Artigas.

The first interim report was published in December, in which the need for global governance [of AI] is justified, because "existing efforts, whether for national countries, or for the private sector or other organizations", such as UNESCO, G7, OECD, among others, "are not enough", argues the official.

The report was made after "more than 50 meetings were held worldwide with different 'stakeholders' [interested parties]", she reports.

Carme Artigas says that people question why AI needs to be governed globally and this "is a bit of the discussion that is going on now". "We want to remain independent, we just want our work to be done based on evidence, based on different views and by the end of June, mid-July, we will issue the final report".

"We had three face-to-face meetings during this whole time, one in New York in December, another in Geneva two months ago and the next one in Singapore at the end of May," she adds, and from the latter "we will issue the final report".

This document will recommend five types of forms that need to be involved to enable global AI governance, because "we think there is no 'accountability'".

Carme Artigas says that the advisory body considers that there is a need for a platform to discuss AI risk, technical interoperability and convergence of legal frameworks.

"And there we propose a small coordination office, I don't think there is room for an agency [...], what we need is coordination" on the role of UN agencies for the private sector, for academia, she adds.

According to the official, what is being proposed "is very feasible". However, "I think what is not so easy now is convincing everyone that this is the right way to go," she says.

The proposals will be submitted to the Secretary-General and then taken to the United Nations General Assembly.

"Ultimately, we are putting the conversation on the agenda," she stresses.

Carme Artigas emphasizes that one of the important measures she would like to recommend "is a global fund for capacity building" supported for AI.

This is because "there is a big gap between the Global North and the Global South" and we cannot generate more divisions, but more inclusion.

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