According to Cointelegraph, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced in a message released on August 30 that this year's International Day of Democracy will focus on artificial intelligence. The International Day of Democracy has been held every September 15 since 2017 and aims to promote democratic principles. Before the event each year, the Secretary-General will release a message on the theme and its importance.
According to a UN press release, the theme of this year's Democracy Day is "Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Good Governance." Guterres said that if not controlled, artificial intelligence could have serious impacts on democracy, peace and stability, including the spread of false information, hate speech and deep fakes.
He also mentioned that artificial intelligence technology can help promote and enhance public participation, equality, security and human development. The United Nations believes that artificial intelligence must serve humanity fairly and safely, but the specific meaning of promoting and maintaining democracy is still unclear.
Addressing AI-generated hate speech, deep fakes and other issues remains primarily a social and regulatory issue. This yearâs International Day of Democracy will focus on how AI can be used to promote inclusion and equality.
