CAF and UNESCO to create council to review AI ethical criteria in Latin America and the Caribbean

May 26, 2022

CAF and UNESCO signed a letter of intent to collaborate on the implementation of the recommendation on artificial intelligence ethics in Latin America and the Caribbean, and will support the creation of a Regional Council to be made up by the governments of the region.

CAF and UNESCO to create council to oversee AI ethics

The Executive President of CAF—development bank of Latin America—, Sergio Díaz-Granados, and the Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Gabriela Ramos, signed a letter of intent to implement in the region the recommendation on the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI) adopted in December 2021 by UNESCO’s 193 Member States.

Both organizations pledged to create a Regional AI Ethics Council, made up of national and local governments in the region, which will support governments through the development of methodologies, guidelines and training programs that facilitate the implementation of the AI recommendation.

Gabriela Ramos said: “At UNESCO we are very enthusiastic about this alliance to advance ethical AI technologies. We are confident that it will be truly transformative for the region.”

“This agreement reinforces CAF’s commitment to fostering artificial intelligence at the service of people, and the sustainable and inclusive development required by the countries of the region. We need to implement new technology tools that improve public management, but we must ensure that they meet ethical criteria,” said Díaz-Granados.

The agreement will also advance artificial intelligence solutions based on ethical principles that promote respect, protection and promotion of human dignity, human rights, environmental and ecosystem preservation, diversity and inclusion, and peaceful, just and interconnected societies. By signing this instrument, both organizations are committed to an ethical, inclusive, democratic AI, at the service of the people.