Lenovo Group, LG AI Research, Mastercard, Microsoft, Salesforce, GSMA, INNIT and Telefonica signed the pledge during UNESCO’s Global Forum on the Ethics of AI They agreed to ensure human rights are guaranteed during the design, development, purchase, sale and use of AI technology, and take action to address any adverse effects DUBAI: Eight global technology companies have pledged to work to develop and use artificial intelligence systems in an ethical manner. The agreement, signed on Monday during the opening day of the second UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI in Slovenia, marks the first time that businesses have engaged with the UN in relation to the technology, UNESCO said. The eight companies are Lenovo Group, LG AI Research, Mastercard, Microsoft, Salesforce, GSMA, INNIT and Telefonica. They pledged to ensure that human rights are maintained and guaranteed during the design, development, purchase, sale and use of AI technology; to carry out due diligence to meet safety standards; to identify the adverse effects of AI; and to take timely action to prevent, mitigate or remedy those adverse effects in keeping with domestic legislation. The deal also highlighted the importance of stringent testing before new AI systems are released to the public and, given the fast-paced nature of development of the technology, it called for risk assessments and mitigation practices after systems are deployed. Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO’s director general, said: “In November 2021, UNESCO forged a consensus between all its member states to adopt the first global ethical framework for the use of artificial intelligence. “Today, we are taking another major step by obtaining the same concrete commitment from global tech companies.” She urged all other technology stakeholders to follow the example set by the eight companies and added: “This alliance of the public and private sectors is critical to building AI for the common good.” The two-day forum in Slovenia concluded on Tuesday.