Paving the Way for Responsible AI: UNESCO and the G7 Toolkit Initiative

The G7 toolkit establishes a foundational framework to address essential concerns such as privacy, transparency, and inclusivity, thereby fostering citizen trust in technology and institutions.

To guide AI's responsible development, robust frameworks are essential for mitigating risks and preventing biased algorithms that can inflict real-world harm. There is a critical need for collaboration with the private sector to ensure AI systems uphold ethical principles, safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms in alignment with the Hiroshima AI process.

To promote transparency, UNESCO is in partnership with the Thomson Reuters Foundation and are launching a voluntary disclosure mechanism. This initiative encourages companies to share their compliance with the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, providing essential data for investors and stakeholders and reinforcing ethical practices in AI deployment.

Moreover, UNESCO's collaborations with certification bodies and standardization organizations align disclosure practices with certification standards. A notable example is its partnership with the French Ministry of Ecological Transition and ISO, which is developing a roadmap to mitigate AI's environmental impact, to be unveiled at the 2025 AI Action Summit in France.

UNESCO, drawing from its extensive work with G7 members and the OECD, as well as its Ethical Impact and Readiness Assessments conducted in 60 countries, continues to contribute to the global advancement of ethical AI frameworks. The G7 toolkit empowers governments to assess risks in AI deployment within the public sector, ensuring responsible governance.

UNESCO remains dedicated to collaborating with its 194 member states, including G7 nations, to leverage AI for inclusive and sustainable societal and economic growth.