During the Global Forum on Digital Development, held in Washington, DC on June 12-13, ILDA Executive Director Gloria Guerrero participated in the launch of the Global Index on Responsible AI.

The panel, Where does society stand on Responsible AI? was moderated by Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo, together with Rachel Adams, Director and founder of the Global Centre on AI Governance and Naser Faruqui, Director of Education and Science at IDRC. Gloria shared ILDA’s experience coordinating research in Latin America and the importance of human and collective work in this process of collecting data on Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 14 countries in the region. In addition, she highlighted the relevance of this index as a tool to promote a human rights approach, inclusion and collaboration between countries in the development of public policies and AI regulatory frameworks.

“In a contested regulatory territory, adopting a multi-stakeholder approach is crucial to move towards human rights-centered AI globally.” Gloria Guerrero

The findings of the Global Responsible AI Index reveal the diversity of AI policies globally, underscoring the need for robust regulations and equitable approaches to ensure responsible AI. Among the findings, it highlights the vital role of multilateral collaboration and the involvement of civil society, universities and other non-governmental actors in the development of human rights-based regulatory frameworks. These findings emphasize the importance of using the index as a guiding tool for governments, companies and organizations involved in AI globally. Below are 3 of the key findings:

• AI governance does not translate into responsible AI
  While 39% of the countries assessed have national AI strategies, most are non-binding and do not include responsible AI principles. As a result, AI governance remains more of an idea than a practice, failing to ensure responsible AI implementation.
• International Cooperation: a cornerstone of Responsible AI
  UNESCO’s efforts have been key in building capacity in responsible AI at the national level, with countries adopting the UNESCO Recommendation on Ethics in AI and committing to its implementation tools.
• Gender equality remains a critical gap in efforts to advance Responsible AI
  Despite growing awareness of gender equality in the field of Artificial Intelligence, most countries have not made significant efforts to ensure that women and gender minorities are not negatively affected by these technologies. Only 24 of the countries assessed have regulatory frameworks that address gender and AI.

In terms of the Latin American context, the Index finds that while there are efforts to establish specific regulatory frameworks and promote cross-sector collaboration with various stakeholders in the development of AI policies, there is still a long and challenging road ahead. However, the region recognizes the need to address ethical and human rights challenges associated with AI, which highlights the importance of strengthening regional coordination and promoting equitable and responsible approaches in this area.

It is also worth noting that behind the creation of this innovative and unprecedented tool is a significant human effort. Researchers collected primary data through a rigorous and independent methodology, a process that highlighted the need for interdisciplinary collaborations. This dynamic approach strengthened a unique network of cooperation.

ILDA believes that the joint work of researchers, the application of tools such as the Global Index on Responsible AI, and the push by International Cooperation to promote inclusion and diversity in discussions about the future of AI are key steps towards ethical and equitable development in this evolving field.

You can download the full report and explore the results on the Global AI Index website.