Pakistan's Nighat Dad joins UN chief Antonio Guterres' high-level AI advisory board

Nighat Dad, the executive director of the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF),  on Friday was appointed to the high-level advisory board on Artificial Intelligence (AI) by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

The 39-member advisory board, comprising distinguished and accomplished individuals from around the world, will concentrate on addressing the global governance of AI, as their interim recommendations, expected by year-end, will focus on three main areas such as international AI governance, generative AI and shared understanding of the risks and challenges linked to the deployment of these technologies.

The advisory board will also explore opportunities and mechanisms for utilising AI with the aim to expedite the achievement of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The development regarding Dad's inclusion in the board was announced by the UN's Pakistan chapter on X.

"Congratulations to @NighatDad, Executive Director of @DigitalRightsPK, who is now a member of the High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Launched by UNSG @AntonioGuterres, it will support the international community’s efforts to govern artificial intelligence."

Commenting on taking up this new, crucial membership, the DRF executive director said: "I am honoured to serve on this high-level advisory board focused on the emerging field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which bring opportunities yet presents significant challenges. I'm excited to bring a global majority world perspective to our discussions and emphasise the importance of recognising the potential human rights issues that may affect marginalised communities worldwide as we embrace new technologies."

Dad added that her goal is to address real-time threats and vulnerabilities faced by these communities and shed light on emerging problems through an intersectional lens while considering global AI governance.

Speaking with Geo.tv, Dad highlighted how her role in the body is as a global expert, specifically bringing a human rights perspective in the debate and deliberation while they look into better governance system of AI globally.

"But I think it is good that perspective of countries like Pakistan and global majority will be part of these deliberations, so the conversation won't be dominated by only the Global North or white people, but also by ourselves as well bringing realities of our own region and countries," she said.

The DRF founder elaborated that if the UN is looking into this issue, then this body will hopefully look at it equally, bringing everyone on the table, keeping in mind all the challenges, opportunities, innovations and governance models from around the world, including our own region.

In his announcement earlier today, Guterres said: "For developing economies, AI offers the possibility of leapfrogging outdated technologies and bringing services directly to people who need them most."

He added that the the  transformative potential of AI for good is difficult even to grasp.

"And we are in urgent need of this enabler and accelerator. Many countries are already reeling from the impact of the climate crisis. The 2030 Agenda — our global blueprint for peace and prosperity on a healthy planet — is in deep trouble," he highlighted.

The UNSG said AI could help to turn that around and can supercharge climate action as well as efforts to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

"But all this depends on AI technologies being harnessed responsibly, and made accessible to everyone — including the developing countries that need them most," he stated.

Guterres hoped that the high-level advisory board is gender-balanced, geographically diverse, and spans generations.

"Members have deep experience across government, business, the technology community, civil society and academia. They bring a broad range of perspectives to the task," the UN chief said in his announcement.