Geneva:Doha The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Switzerland have announced that Geneva will host the Geneva AI Summit in June 2027 as part of a four-day AI Week. This event will include the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum and the 10th-anniversary edition of the annual AI for Good Global Summit.
According to Qatar News Agency, the announcement was made during a joint event by the ITU and Switzerland on the sidelines of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26). The event showcased preparations for the week and underscored the historic partnership between the ITU and Switzerland, which has been in place since the ITU's founding in 1865. Geneva has served as the organization's headquarters for nearly 160 years, playing a crucial role in fostering international cooperation and leveraging advanced technology for societal benefit.
The Geneva AI Summit will take place under the theme "Bridging Innovation and Trust," as stated by HE Swiss State Secretary René Dönni Kuoni. The summit will focus on positioning AI as a driver of prosperity and progress while promoting its responsible and safe use. This effort is part of a trajectory that began in the United Kingdom in 2023, with subsequent summits in Seoul, Paris, and New Delhi, each expanding discussions on AI's safety, innovation, and inclusion.
HE Secretary-General, ITU, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, highlighted Switzerland's leadership in hosting the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society in 2003 and co-organizing the AI for Good Summit since 2017. She emphasized the importance of making innovation inclusive and ensuring governance is informed by technological realities.
Dr. Ebtesam Al Mazrouei, Chairperson of the United Nations AI for Good Impact Initiative, stressed the necessity of internet connectivity, computing power, and human skills in turning AI models into useful services. She addressed the digital divide, noting significant disparities in internet penetration between high-income and low-income nations.
Frédéric Werner, ITU Chief of Strategic Engagement, highlighted the evolution of the "AI for Good" platform and cautioned that the critical question is not what AI can do, but what it should do. He provided an example of a technology developed by an Estonian startup that could transform diabetes screening through voice tone analysis, raising questions about privacy and ethical use.
(QNA)