Business Council for Ethics of AI

The Business Council for Ethics of AI is a collaborative initiative between UNESCO & companies involved in the development or use of AI in various sectors.

More on the Council

The Council serves as a platform for companies to come together, exchange experiences, and promote ethical practices within the AI industry. By working closely with UNESCO, it aims to ensure that AI is developed and utilized in a manner that respects human rights and upholds ethical standards.

Currently co-chaired by Microsoft and Telefonica, the Council is committed to strengthening technical capacities in ethics and AI, designing and implementing the Ethical Impact Assessment tool mandated by the Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, and contributing to the development of intelligent regional regulations. Through these efforts, it strives to create a competitive environment that benefits all stakeholders and promotes the responsible and ethical use of AI.

Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

The private sector played an instrumental role in the construction of the Recommendation and actively participated in global and regional consultation spaces. The Recommendation recognizes the fundamental role of companies in the ethical impact and invites Governments to “involve all interested parties, including companies, to ensure that they play their respective roles in the application of the Recommendation” during its implementation. In addition, the Recommendation also provides that, like governments, "private sector companies should develop due diligence and supervision mechanisms to identify, prevent and mitigate risks and be accountable for the way they address the impact of AI on human rights, the rule of law, and inclusive societies”.

It is strategic for UNESCO to work with companies that develop or use AI in different sectors, identifying good practices that take into account and respect ethical standards. The Recommendation can act as a guide to help these companies identify possible risks in their services and how to avoid them, as well as contribute to moving towards intelligent regional regulation that ensures an adequate competitive environment, for the benefit of everybody.

Friends of the Recommendation

That is why UNESCO co-creates, together with interested and committed companies, a network of companies that are friends of the Recommendation. The Business Council for Ethics of AI will serve as a space to exchange experiences and good practices, strengthen technical capacities in ethics and AI, design and implement the Ethical Impact Assessment tool mandated for in the Recommendation, and ensure that AI develops in an ethical manner that respects human rights.

Launch of the network in October 2023

The network was launched in an event on AI and Ethics, back to back with the High-level and Ministerial meeting on AI and Ethics in Santiago, Chile, in October 2023, organized with CAF – Development Bank of Latin America, and the government of Chile.

More information

Resources

UNESCO AI Business Council Membership

The UNESCO AI Business Council is open to members of the business community who embody the values and best practices of UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence to join as members.

Member companies of the UNESCO AI business council are global leaders in the field of responsible AI. UNESCO's Social and Human Sciences Sector serves as the business council’s secretariat, in charge of promoting and energizing its operation and activities.

The business council collaborates closely with UNESCO on the following activities:

• Promoting the implementation of UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence within companies.

• Accompanying public initiatives in countries and subnational governments to regulate AI with an ethical vision.

• Exchanging experiences and facilitate multi-sector collaboration amongst companies from different sectors that are leading AI developments and usage.

• Promoting awareness and generation of knowledge about the ethical impact of AI.

• Disseminating private sector best practices on AI ethics.

Current members include GSMA (Observer), and Co-Chairs Microsoft and Telefonica.

Member Benefits

Amongst other benefits, members receive exclusive invitations to participate in UNESCO activities open to the business council. Members are also able to coordinate and engage other members on joint initiatives, papers, and projects that advance the field of responsible AI globally. Opportunities to highlight AI skilling initiatives as part of UNESCO’s AI Skilling Database are also open only to members of the AI business council.

Requirements

Business council membership is open to private sector entities who are willing to endorse UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, participate in business council activities, provide a voluntary contribution, and receive the approval of both the Business Council Co-Chairs and UNESCO.

For more information on membership contact a.melguizo@unesco.org

UNESCO AI Business Council Skilling Inventory/repository

Members companies of the UNESCO AI business council are global leaders in the field of responsible AI and provide a range of AI skilling opportunities to promote the best practices of UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and accelerate the responsible development and deployment of AI.

Around the world members of the UNESCO AI Business council are promoting and training AI skills for the future. Below is a comprehensive list of initiatives that showcase the best of these efforts and opportunities to learn more about Artificial Intelligence:

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TELEFONICA