Geneva: The Sultanate of Oman participated in the inaugural session of the United Nations Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance. The event, held at the Palexpo international convention centre in Geneva, Switzerland, saw the attendance of representatives from United Nations member states, global technology companies, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and the global technical community.
According to Oman News Agency, Oman's delegation was led by Dr. Ali bin Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology. The delegation included Dr. Idris Abdul Rahman Al Khanjari, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva, and specialists from the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and the Foreign Ministry.
UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres noted that this session marks the first occasion where every UN member state has a seat at the dialogue, emphasizing the importance of global cooperation to ensure AI is safer, fairer, and more accessible.
Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly, highlighted that the dialogue extends beyond regulating technology, focusing on a shared vision that aligns technological progress with human dignity, fairness, and sustainable development. She emphasized the potential of responsible AI governance in various fields such as healthcare, education, research, crisis management, and agriculture.
Dr. Ali Al Shidhani stated that Oman has the capabilities to contribute to global efforts in shaping responsible AI systems, aligning with Oman Vision 2040. He expressed Oman's commitment to collaborating with the United Nations and global partners to develop a sustainable AI framework that supports prosperity and dignity.
The session addressed several AI-related issues, noting the rapid pace of AI capability development and the challenges in measuring and governing these advancements. It was highlighted that training in leading AI models is limited to a select few and that there are geographical and linguistic disparities in AI inputs and outputs.