Artificial intelligence is moving faster than governments can keep up with, and it has predicted the structures of more than 200 million proteins, accelerated drug discovery and vaccine development, and advanced research into antibiotic resistance.

UN, in a report launched on Wednesday, saw the huge benefits of using AI in the health sector, technology, education and other sectors of the economy.

However, while AI’s capabilities are accelerating, experts say the rules governing its safe use are struggling to keep pace.

That is the conclusion of the preliminary report by the UN Independent report by the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence.

The report, to ‌be presented to governments at an inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI governance in Geneva, July 6 to 7, offers the first global, independent scientific assessment of AI, with a fuller, comprehensive report planned in 2027.

The report also highlights the benefits of using AI to boost food security and improve lives.

“AI-powered early warning systems are helping to identify food insecurity before it becomes a crisis. Doctors are using AI to detect diseases such as breast cancer earlier, while health workers in developing countries are using AI tools in local languages to improve patient care.

“Improving lives: AI is supporting scientific research, making technology more accessible for people with disabilities, and expanding opportunities for personalised education and mental health support,’’ it stated.

It, however, warns that the window to establish effective global governance remains open but may not stay that way for long, as AI could become one of humanity’s most transformative technologies.

The challenge, according to the report, is finding a way to unlock AI’s enormous benefits while preventing its growing risks. AI capabilities have advanced at an extraordinary pace over the past few years.

Powerful new computing networks, vast amounts of training data, and improved AI techniques have produced systems capable of fluent conversation, advanced scientific reasoning, software development, and the creation of highly realistic images, audio, and video.

Instead of simply responding to prompts, AI “agents” can increasingly plan tasks, use digital tools, write software and complete complex assignments with little or no human oversight. Researchers say the complexity of tasks these systems can complete has been doubling every few months, according to the report.

The report further highlights the risks of using AI, noting that the same technology is also creating new dangers such as online abuse, disinformation, crime, mental health, loss of control and environmental impact.

AI could fuel the spread of sexual abuse material and sexually explicit deepfakes, with women and children most at risk. It could generate false information that is as convincing as the truth, undermining trust in public debate and democracy.

(NAN)