G20 summit ends with PM Modi calling for AI governance framework, reform of multilateral organisations

Addressing the 'One Future' session of the G20 Summit, Modi said the world's 'new realities' should be reflected in 'new global structure'.

The 18^th G20 Summit in New Delhi came to an end on Sunday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling upon the bloc to establish a framework for Artificial Intelligence governance and stressing reforms of the United Nations and other multilateral organisations to keep them relevant in the contemporary world.

The prime minister also proposed to have another virtual meeting of the leaders before India’s G20 presidency would formally end on November 30.

A day after the G20 adopted a declaration that expressed concern over the adverse impact of wars and conflicts around the world but refrained from condemning Russia for its ‘special military operations’ in Ukraine, the prime minister, the host of the summit, led the G20 leaders to the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi early on Saturday. United States President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron and the other leaders, who attended the summit of the intergovernmental forum, joined him in paying homage to the apostle of peace and non-violence.

“As diverse nations converge, Gandhi Ji’s timeless ideals guide our collective vision for a harmonious, inclusive and prosperous global future,” Modi later posted on X.

The leaders of the premier forum for international economic cooperation later met at ‘Bharat Mandapam’ for a session on ‘One Future’ – a sequel to the sessions on ‘One Earth’ and ‘One Family’ held on the first day of the summit.

“Today, we are witnessing an unprecedented scale and speed in new-generation technologies. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one such example in front of us. In 2019, we (the G20) adopted the ‘Principles on AI’. Today, we need to take one step further,” the prime minister said, addressing the penultimate session of the summit.

The G20 in the Delhi Declaration adopted on Saturday pledged to pursue “a pro-innovation regulatory/governance approach that maximizes the benefits and takes into account the risks associated with the use of AI”.

“I propose that we establish a framework for Responsible Human-Centric AI governance,” the prime minister suggested on Sunday. “India will also give its suggestions in this regard. It will be our endeavour that all countries get the benefits of AI in areas like socio-economic development, global workforce and research and development,” he further added.

The G20 leaders, according to the ‘Delhi Declaration’, stressed the need to address issues like human rights, transparency, fairness, accountability, regulation, safety, appropriate human oversight, ethics, biases, privacy, and data protection to ensure responsible development, deployment and use of the AI. They agreed to work together to promote international cooperation and further discussions on international governance for AI.

Modi also made a strong pitch for reforms of the United Nations and the multilateral organisations. “When the UN was established, the world at that time was completely different from what it is today. There were 51 founding members of the UN. Today the number of UN member countries is around 200,” said the prime minister. “Despite this, the permanent membership of the UN Security Council remains unchanged.”  

“It is a law of nature that individuals and organizations that fail to adapt to changing times inevitably lose their relevance,” he added.

The concluding session of the summit saw the prime minister ceremonially handing over the G20 presidential gavel to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who would host the next annual conclave of the leaders of the intergovernmental forum around this time next year.