UNU Macau AI Conference 2024 took place in Macau SAR, China, on April 25. Nearly 500 representatives from the academic community, policy-makers, private sectors, international organizations, and civil society organizations from around the world attended the Conference, which centered on the theme of “AI for All: Bridging Divides, Building a Sustainable Future.”
Twenty-six sessions and four side events kicked off over the course of one week, each facilitating dialogue, discussion, and exchange across three main thematic pillars: AI to Accelerate SDGs, AI Governance for the Future, and AI and Capacity Building.
“AI is complex because it is how we are attempting to grapple with a planet in its full intricacy and solve some of the biggest problems of all time. It is time to ask the biggest questions and bring AI home to the material essentials of sustainable development”, stated Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University (UNU) and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN).
Professor Xue Lan, Dean of Schwarzman College and Dean of the Institute for AI International Governance (I-AIIG), Tsinghua University, gave a keynote speech on China’s development and governance, as well as lessons learned from its rollout. AI’s uncertain inherent and rapid technological development is faster than the formation and promulgation of policies. Therefore, AI governance requires agile governance, the mixing of different policy tools such as guidelines, regulations, and laws, and the mutual adaptation between business and government. “China has a strong research base and wide applications in the AI field, advocates the agile governance of AI, and encourages global collaboration in AI research and governance,” he concluded.
Keynote speech by Professor Xue Lan
Ms. Ao Leong U, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, representing the Chief Executive of the Macao SAR Government, gave opening remarks and congratulated the opening of the Conference.
Mr. Neang Mao, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications of Cambodia, in his opening address, shared his experience from Cambodia and commended the efforts of UNU Macau to provide scholarships to youth from the Global South to participate in the Conference.
Dr. Amandeep Singh-Gill, Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology and Under-Secretary-General of the UN, noted in his speech that “Ensuring the interoperability of governance initiatives, addressing the digital divide, and fostering a multi-stakeholder approach will be essential for realizing the full potential of AI.”
Mr. Guy Bernard Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy of the UN, commended the launch of the UNU AI Network, noting that “It has the potential to bring together experts from many sectors to discuss issues and challenges related to AI and to develop solutions.”
Dr. Jingbo Huang, Director of UNU IIST Macau, emphasized in her welcoming speech that “It is the first AI conference hosted by UNU in Macau.”
During the Conference, the UNU Global AI Network was officially launched, embodying a collaborative initiative spearheaded by the UNU alongside its partners. The I-AIIG of Tsinghua University was invited to join the Network.
UNU Global AI Network launch ceremony
