In August 2024, IT for Change responded to the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology's AI Opportunity Scan. The scan was meant to gather respondents' expectations for AI’s positive impact in terms of scientific breakthroughs, economic activities and the SDGs. The survey asked only about possible positive implications of AI.
In our response, while highlighting the tremendous opportunities presented by AI to accelerate the achievement of SDGs and giving concrete examples for the same, we also cautioned the need to address the structural barriers that prevent many countries and communities from benefiting from AI. We highlighted the need for public funding mechanisms through Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) commitments and international and regional financial institutions for AI research in developing countries; the need to evolve a binding normative framework on data that respects national sovereignty rights in data; and the urgent need to reform IP regimes to address challenges of data extractivism.