Chongqing - The 2024 ITU/MIIT High-Level Seminar was recently held in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area. In an interview with Bridging News, Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), highlighted the ITU’s role in bridging the gap between countries’ AI innovations and policies through an international platform.

Lamanauskas discussed the ongoing disparities in AI technological innovation and policy between countries. He stressed the importance of ensuring equitable access to AI worldwide so that all nations can fully benefit from AI advancements.

The fair use of AI resources globally has raised concerns over intellectual property, with a few countries leading innovation while others lag behind. He urged more support to help these nations integrate into the global AI ecosystem and unlock its potential.

He also addressed the policy divide, noting that only a handful of countries are driving AI policy discussions, which makes it difficult for others to tackle AI-related challenges effectively.

At the High-Level Seminar, ITU and MIIT unveiled AI for Good-Innovate for Impact Final Report 2024, which enables people to understand the tangible impact AI can have on their daily lives. Lamanauskas explained that the report showcases concrete cases demonstrating AI's potential to impact daily life.

"We received around 200 cases from nearly 40 countries, selecting 50 from nearly 20 countries," he said. When people wonder how AI can affect their lives or which areas or cases they might explore, the report can serve as a valuable resource. “I would consider that is a handbook,” said Lamanauskas.

These cases span fields like agriculture and healthcare, with two-fifths from China, indicating widespread AI applications across various industries in the country.

Lamanauskas also highlighted challenges in AI, including algorithmic bias, the spread of misinformation, and environmental impact due to energy consumption in data centers.

He stressed the importance of the upcoming AI for Good Summit, which will unite solution providers, users, and policymakers to discuss strategies for making AI more accessible, diverse, and globally impactful.

(Ma Manlin, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)