Closing remarks

Summary

This transcript captures the closing remarks from the AI for Good Summit 2025, delivered by ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan Martin and other organizers. The summit brought together over 11,000 participants to discuss artificial intelligence’s potential for positive global impact through dialogue on capacity building, governance, and standards development. Martin highlighted several breakthrough innovations showcased during the week, including Rodrigo, a Brazilian paraplegic who drove a Formula One car using brain-machine interface technology, and AI systems capable of detecting glucose levels through voice analysis for diabetes management in low-resource settings.

The summit featured significant policy discussions, including warnings from Jeffrey Hinton about creating intelligence beyond human comprehension and the need for preparation rather than panic. Estonian President Alar Karist emphasized integrating AI tools into educational systems to build AI literacy, while celebrity ambassador Will.i.am helped promote AI skills development. A major highlight was Yvonne from Tanzania, whose AI-powered maternal healthcare solution “Mama Mate” won the AI for Good Innovation Award after delivering offline, solar-powered healthcare in multiple languages.

The event included a special standards day focusing on building trust in AI systems, launching the AI Standards Exchange and new resources to combat deepfakes through collaboration with ISO and IEC partners. Martin emphasized that the summit demonstrated how bringing the right people together creates concrete cooperation beyond mere dialogue, with 53 UN agencies reporting 729 AI-related activities. The summit concluded with the announcement that next year’s event will take place July 7-10, 2025, with registration opening immediately, reinforcing the message that participants represent “the AI generation” capable of using artificial intelligence as a means to benefit all humanity.

Keypoints

**Major Discussion Points:**

– **AI Innovation Showcase and Awards**: The summit highlighted breakthrough AI applications including brain-machine interfaces for paralyzed individuals, AI-powered glucose detection through voice analysis, and maternal healthcare solutions like “Mama Mate” from Tanzania, which won the AI for Good Innovation Award.

– **AI Governance and Global Cooperation**: A significant focus on bringing together countries at different stages of AI development to chart inclusive AI governance paths, with over 200 leaders participating in roundtable discussions and emphasizing the need for ethical AI development beyond mere utility.

– **AI Standards and Trust Building**: The launch of the AI Standards Exchange and collaboration with ISO and IEC partners to develop technical and policy resources for combating deepfakes and supporting multimedia authenticity, with plans for an international AI standards summit in Korea.

– **Capacity Building and Education**: Emphasis on creating an “AI literate society” through integration of AI tools in schools, with support from the AI skills coalition and celebrity ambassadors like Will.i.am to reach broader audiences and open new opportunities.

– **AI and Creative Arts Integration**: Celebration of AI’s intersection with creative fields through competitions, performances, film festivals, and music collaborations, demonstrating AI’s potential for artistic empowerment and expression.

**Overall Purpose:**

The discussion serves as a closing ceremony for the AI for Good Summit 2025, summarizing the week’s achievements in promoting responsible AI development, fostering international cooperation, and demonstrating AI’s potential to address global challenges while building trust through standards and governance frameworks.

**Overall Tone:**

The tone is consistently celebratory, optimistic, and forward-looking throughout the discussion. It maintains an enthusiastic and grateful atmosphere, with speakers expressing appreciation for participants, achievements, and collaborations. The tone becomes increasingly energetic toward the end with the announcement of next year’s summit dates and the opening of registration, culminating in a festive, community-building conclusion.

Speakers

– **Doreen Bogdan Martin**: Secretary General (referenced as “your very own secretary general” by Frederic Werner)

– **LJ Rich**: Event host/emcee (described as “incredible emcee” and praised for stage presentation skills)

– **Frederic Werner**: Event coordinator/organizer (coordinates with Secretary General, manages event logistics and announcements)

**Additional speakers:**

– **Rodrigo**: Brazilian paraplegic who made history driving Formula One car using brain-machine interface, building open-source brainwave database

– **Jeffrey Hinton**: AI expert who warned about creating intelligence more advanced than humans

– **Alar Karist**: President of Estonia, spoke about AI literacy in society and integrating AI tools in schools

– **Will.i.am**: AI for Good skills ambassador

– **Yvonne**: Young innovator from Tanzania, creator of “Mama Mate” AI-powered maternal healthcare solution, winner of AI for Good Innovation Award

– **His Excellency Almesmar**: Representative from UAE, co-chair of AI governance dialogue

– **Madame Anne Bouvereau**: Special Envoy on AI for France, co-chair of AI governance dialogue

– **Oskula**: Musician who performed in “cello meets code” performance

– **Big Ocean**: K-pop group that uses AI voice technology

– **Pope Leo**: Spoke about building bridges of dialogue and seeking ethical clarity in AI development

# AI for Good Summit 2024 Closing Ceremony Report

## Executive Summary

The AI for Good Summit 2024 concluded with closing remarks delivered by ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan Martin, alongside event coordinators Frederic Werner and host LJ Rich. The summit brought together over 11,000 people, featuring 700 speakers across 250+ sessions to engage in dialogue about artificial intelligence’s potential for positive global impact. The Friday evening ceremony celebrated breakthrough AI innovations, announced future initiatives, and emphasized AI’s role as a humanitarian tool while maintaining a casual, appreciative atmosphere.

## Closing Ceremony Proceedings

The ceremony experienced some technical difficulties, notably with Frederic Werner’s microphone issues that resulted in repeated phrases during his remarks. Despite these challenges, the event maintained its celebratory tone, with participants dressed casually for “casual Friday.” LJ Rich was recognized for her excellent work as the summit’s host, and the ceremony concluded with a photo session featuring ITU staff, interns, and volunteers described as “superheroes.”

## Key Achievements and Innovations Highlighted

### Medical AI Breakthroughs

Secretary-General Martin highlighted revolutionary AI applications in healthcare, particularly AI systems capable of detecting glucose levels through voice analysis. This innovation prompted her thought-provoking question: “But if AI can hear your blood sugar, what else might it hear?” The technology offers potential transformation for diabetes management in resource-limited settings.

### Accessibility Technology

The summit celebrated Rodrigo, a Brazilian paraplegic who demonstrated brain-machine interface technology by driving a Formula One car. This achievement was coupled with the development of an open-source brainwave database, representing significant progress in accessibility technology.

### Maternal Healthcare Innovation

Yvonne from Tanzania, who “pitched twice, not once, but twice” as emphasized during the ceremony, won the AI for Good Innovation Award for her AI-powered maternal healthcare solution “Mama Mate.” This system delivers offline, solar-powered healthcare services in multiple languages for underserved communities.

### Robotics for Good

The ceremony recognized robotics challenge winners from Venezuela and Brazil, with 37 countries participating in the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge, demonstrating global engagement in AI innovation.

## AI Governance and International Cooperation

The summit facilitated AI governance dialogues bringing together over 200 leaders from countries at different developmental stages. These discussions resulted in a chair’s summary that will be published for broader benefit. The dialogue emphasized the need for ethical AI development and inclusive governance approaches.

Addressing warnings about creating intelligence more advanced than humans, Secretary-General Martin emphasized: “That’s not a call to panic. It’s actually a call to prepare,” underscoring the importance of proactive measures in managing AI advancement.

## UN System Integration and Partnerships

The summit revealed extensive AI integration across the UN system, with 729 AI activities reported across 53 agencies focusing on promoting peace, dignity, and equality. New partnerships were announced, including a food security challenge with FAO planned for the following year.

## Standards Development and Trust Building

### AI Standards Exchange

A major outcome was the launch of the AI Standards Exchange, developed in collaboration with ISO and IEC partners. This initiative aims to support cohesive standards development and build trust in AI systems.

### Trust as Social Responsibility

Secretary-General Martin offered insight into trust in AI systems, stating: “Trust isn’t a property of machines. It’s how we handle uncertainty together.” This perspective frames trust-building as a collective social responsibility rather than a purely technical challenge.

## Education and Capacity Building

The summit emphasized AI literacy throughout society, drawing from contributions including those of Estonian President Alar Karist regarding AI integration in education. The AI skills coalition, supported by celebrity ambassadors like Will.i.am, was highlighted as a mechanism to reach broader audiences and create learning opportunities.

## Creative Arts Integration

The summit celebrated AI’s intersection with creative fields through initiatives including the Canvas of the Future competition and film festivals. Notable performances included “cello meets code” presentations and collaborations with K-pop group Big Ocean, demonstrating AI’s creative applications beyond utilitarian functions.

## Ethical Framework

The summit emphasized the need to “seek that ethical clarity” and “go beyond the mere criteria of utility or efficiency when we develop and deploy and use artificial intelligence.” This call represents a fundamental challenge to purely utilitarian approaches to AI development, positioning AI as a means to benefit humanity rather than an end in itself.

## Future Planning

### AI for Good Summit 2025

The summit concluded with the announcement of next year’s event, scheduled for 7-10 July 2025, with registration opening immediately in what was described as a somewhat chaotic but planned ceremony.

### International AI Standards Summit

Plans were announced for an international AI standards summit in Korea, indicating continued focus on technical standards development and international coordination.

## Conclusion

The AI for Good Summit 2024 successfully demonstrated concrete cooperation among diverse stakeholders beyond mere dialogue. The event’s emphasis on treating AI as a humanitarian tool, coupled with focus on ethical clarity, international cooperation, and capacity building, establishes a framework for responsible AI development.

The summit’s closing message positioned participants as members of “the AI generation” with collective responsibility for ensuring AI benefits all humanity. Combined with concrete initiatives in standards development, governance dialogue, and capacity building, this creates a foundation for continued progress in making AI a force for global good while maintaining an optimistic, forward-looking approach to the challenges ahead.

Doreen Bogdan Martin: Thank you. Thank you, LJ. And you see I’m wearing the t-shirt because it’s Friday. It’s Friday evening. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. What a week it has been. We met Rodrigo, a Brazilian paraplegic who made history by driving a Formula One car using brain-machine interface. Rodrigo is building the biggest open-source database of brainwaves to advance scientific research and users can decide on which projects they donate to with privacy by design. We also saw how AI can detect glucose levels through the sound of your voice, a breakthrough that could revolutionize diabetes management in low-resource settings. But if AI can hear your blood sugar, what else might it hear? Well, Jeffrey Hinton warned us yesterday we are creating something more intelligent than ourselves and we have no experience with what comes next. That’s not a call to panic. It’s actually a call to prepare, ladies and gentlemen. And I think that this very summit this week where over 11,000 people came in person and came through these halls here, well, I think we’ve actually answered that call by engaging in dialogue, dialogue about capacity building, about governance, about the standards that are required to steer AI in the right direction. As we heard from the president of Estonia, Alar Karist, if we want an AI literate society, if we want a society that’s resilient and ready for the future, well, we need to start integrating these new tools into our schools. And our AI for Good skills ambassador, Will.i.am, brought star power, star power to help us reach as many learners as we can so that our AI skills coalition can open new doors, open windows to new worlds of opportunity. We also saw Yvonne on this very stage. I don’t know if Yvonne is in the room. Yvonne, a young innovator from Tanzania who made her pitch called Mama Mate. An AI powered, are you here, Yvonne? An AI powered digital companion delivering maternal health care offline, solar powered, and in multiple languages. After pitching twice, not once, but twice, Mama Mate won the AI for Good Innovation Award and congratulations again, Yvonne. This year’s Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Grand Finale brought together brilliant young minds, brilliant young minds from 37 countries to tackle things like disaster response with open source robotics and artificial intelligence. And congratulations to the teams that won from Venezuela and Brazil. Congratulations for claiming those top spots in your categories. Next year, as we announced also on this stage, we’re going to be bringing you the results of a new challenge that we launched with FAO on food security. I think, ladies and gentlemen, this is just one example, one example of the AI partnerships that drive impact straight across the UN system. You can find out more about what we’re doing in the UN system. We have no less than 729 activities that we have reported on at the end of 2024. And our new report that was released yesterday from 53 UN agencies where we’re showing how we’re using artificial intelligence to carry out the mission of the United Nations to promote peace, dignity, and equality on a healthy planet. Yesterday’s AI governance dialogue brought countries that are driving the current AI conversation together with countries that are just getting started on their AI journey so that together we can start to chart a path towards inclusive AI governance. At the roundtable that we held yesterday on AI governance, it was attended by more than 200 leaders. And we saw governments asking each other at that very session for support. And I think this goes to show, as I said also yesterday, that when the right people, the right people like you people in this room, when the right people come together, dialogue actually goes beyond talk. And it sparks the real cooperation and that concrete action that we so, so need at this moment. So be sure to read our chair’s summary from this governance dialogue yesterday. And I want to thank, as he’s right in front of me, one of our co-chairs, His Excellency Almesmar of the UAE, and also Madame Anne Bouvereau, the Special Envoy on AI for France. And I thank you both for your leadership yesterday and for putting the highlights together in such a succinct way. It will benefit us all. And today, thank you, today, ladies and gentlemen, today was all about standards. We had a special standards day because we know that standards are needed to help build trust. Because as we’re reminded at this summit, trust isn’t a property of machines. It’s how we handle uncertainty together. The new AI Standards Exchange, which was launched today, it’s very exciting, it’s going to help to strengthen that trust. And it will do that by supporting cohesive standards development and applications. We also launched two very important outcomes from our AI and multimedia authenticity standards collaboration, where ITU is working with partners, ISO and IEC, and I think they’re here in the room. And these important both technical and policy resources are going to help us to be able to combat deepfakes and also support multimedia authenticity. I do hope that you’ll be able to join us later this year, where we’ll be having in Korea an international AI standards summit with our partners, ISO and IEC. Ladies and gentlemen, throughout this week and also just on this stage, we saw also lots of great things of what happens when artificial intelligence meets art through things like the Canvas of the Future competition. We also heard what happens when we have music and AI come together. We had a cello meets code performance by Oskula and other incredible musicians as well. We also celebrated our AI film festival, recognizing the winner, Souls of the Shipwreck. And we danced along with Big Ocean, the K-pop group that uses AI voice tech to turn a physical imitation into AI empowerment. Ladies and gentlemen, before we wrap up and conclude this summit, I do want to take a moment and really thank you and thank this whole community for having made this happen. I want to thank specifically our 53 partners from the UN family, our co-convener, Switzerland, thank you for being with us yet again, our generous sponsors, our incredible exhibitors, the amazing speakers, how many speakers did we have, Fred? 700 speakers, ladies and gentlemen, I think it was more than 250 sessions. And of course, our fantastic emcees, especially you, LJ, thank you, thank you. And I do want to thank the incredible staff of the ITU. You may not see them, you’ll see them in a moment when they come up on stage, but thank you to the incredible ITU team. We’ll have you come up here in a second, to the interns, to all the colleagues that helped to make this happen. And I do hope, ladies and gentlemen, that you will come back next year. I won’t share the dates because Fred’s going to do that also in a second. And until then, ladies and gentlemen, let’s remember, as I said on Tuesday, that we are the AI generation. We are the AI generation and we can do more. We can do more when it comes to capacity building. We can do more when it comes to governance, standards, and we can do it knowing, as Pope Leo reminded us yesterday, we can do it knowing that we can build bridges of dialogue. That’s what he called for. He said we have to build these bridges of dialogue and that it is our very shared responsibility to seek that ethical clarity, as he called it, and go beyond the mere criteria of utility or efficiency when we develop and deploy and use artificial intelligence. And so, as we wrap up this summit, I ask you to recommit, to treat AI not as an end, but as a means, as a means to do good, as much as we possibly can for the benefit of all of humanity everywhere. With that, ladies and gentlemen, thank you again for being here and I’m going to hand the floor back to LJ and then I think we’re going to hear from Fred, but I wish you a safe journey home and let’s work together to make AI for good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

LJ Rich: Doreen, you are and continue to be an absolute legend and we know that there is an extra person that we need to call to this stage, don’t we? Yes, perhaps you will join us in welcoming to the stage the one, the only, the excellent

Doreen Bogdan Martin: Fred Werner. Come on up. Hi, Doreen. Is my microphone on? Yeah. I’ll try that again. Hi, Doreen. Hi, Fred. Nice T-shirt. Thank you. Where did you get it? From Fred.

Frederic Werner: It’s not every day you get it. It’s not every day. It’s not every day. It’s not every day. It’s not every day. It’s not every day. It’s not every day. It’s not every day. It’s not every day. It’s not every day you get to coordinate your outfit with your very own secretary general. Exactly, right? Uh-huh. Thanks, Doreen. So we just have a couple announcements, but first I want to thank the amazing, incredible LJ Rich. I don’t know how she does it. Everything I learned on stage, I’ve learned from her. Thank you. You’re incredible. Thank you. I will never do a summit without you, ever. Thanks. Thank you. We do have an announcement, but to make the announcement, I want to thank you for being here. Thank you. Thank you. I’m so proud of you. I love you. I’m so proud of you. I’m so proud of you. I’m so proud of you. And I also want to invite all of the superheroes, the AI for Good superheroes. So that’s the ITU staff, the interns, the volunteers. This was really one ITU, a Herculean effort. I’m not sure we knew what we were getting into moving here, but we survived. We got to the finish line and now we know what to do next year. So please, can all the superheroes get up here and let’s do a photo, but also the announcement with the photo. So just get up here. Yeah. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it’s the photograph first and then the announcement. Repeat the photograph, then the announcement.

Doreen Bogdan Martin: Okay, keep going everybody. There’s quite a few. We can all read between these. If you can see space in the middle, keep going further. In front of the stage here. Okay. We have a few too many people on stage to fit into our camera. So can we start coming in at the bottom of the stage, please? If you are past this point, we’re going to have you in the front. Okay. Now we’ve now got an unequal scenario here. We’ve got a few people here at the front and nobody on this side. Can we balance this out, please? Can we have a few people going onto this side, perhaps? If you’re in the front, some of you amazing people in the yellow, please can you join us over here? I feel like a game show host at the moment. Yes, well done. And congratulations, all of you. Yes, please. Squish in. Could you please come nicely in? It’s a small lens, everyone. It’s just a single old phone from many years ago. There we go. Are we all ready? I think so. I’m just going to check with Gus. Does this look like a good framing? Okay. All righty. Let’s get ready for the announcement, everyone. Hang on. Let’s wait for the music to stop. Let’s hear our announcement. Okay. So this is probably the most overproduced date announcement in the history of the world. That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to tell you the date. So could we put it on the screen? And the dates of the summit is the 7th to the 10th of July, but also for the very first time ever, we’ve actually opened up registration. So you can actually register today. Who here is going to come back next year? Show of hands. All right. Are we going to do a countdown to opening the registration? And let’s do a countdown to opening the registration. Okay. You ready?

LJ Rich: Who’s going to count it? You are, of course. Five, four, three, two, one. Open. Open. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that was in fact planned. Don’t worry. No need to worry. But we are so excited to let you know the registration is now open right now for the very first time we’re doing this, and we really look forward to seeing you all next year. Thank you so much for joining us at AI for Good 2025.

Agreement points

AI as a tool for humanitarian benefit rather than technological advancement for its own sake

Speakers

– Doreen Bogdan Martin

Arguments

Treating AI as a means to do good for all humanity rather than an end in itself

Building bridges of dialogue and seeking ethical clarity beyond utility and efficiency criteria in AI development

Summary

There is consensus that AI should be developed and deployed with humanitarian goals as the primary objective, emphasizing ethical considerations over purely technical metrics

Topics

Human rights | Development

Need for proactive preparation and capacity building for AI advancement

Speakers

– Doreen Bogdan Martin

Arguments

Creating something more intelligent than ourselves requires preparation rather than panic

Need for AI literacy in society requires integrating new tools into schools for future resilience

More capacity building efforts are needed as part of being the AI generation

Summary

Strong agreement on the necessity of systematic preparation, education, and capacity building to handle AI advancement responsibly

Topics

Development | Sociocultural | Legal and regulatory

Importance of international cooperation and inclusive governance in AI development

Speakers

– Doreen Bogdan Martin

Arguments

AI governance dialogue brought together countries at different stages of AI development to chart inclusive governance paths

729 AI activities reported across 53 UN agencies demonstrate systematic integration of AI for peace, dignity, and equality

Summary

Consensus on the critical need for inclusive international cooperation that brings together both advanced and developing nations in AI governance

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development | Human rights

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers demonstrate commitment to systematic organization and forward-thinking planning for international AI cooperation events

Speakers

– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Frederic Werner

Arguments

Coordination of summit logistics and speaker management across 700 speakers and 250+ sessions

Opening registration for next year’s summit scheduled for July 7-10 represents unprecedented early planning

Topics

Infrastructure | Development

Unexpected consensus

Integration of arts and culture with AI technology

Speakers

– Doreen Bogdan Martin

Arguments

Throughout this week and also just on this stage, we saw also lots of great things of what happens when artificial intelligence meets art through things like the Canvas of the Future competition

Explanation

Unexpected emphasis on the creative and cultural dimensions of AI development, suggesting consensus that AI advancement should include artistic and cultural applications alongside technical and governance considerations

Topics

Sociocultural | Development

Celebrity involvement in AI education and capacity building

Speakers

– Doreen Bogdan Martin

Arguments

AI skills coalition with celebrity ambassadors can reach more learners and open new opportunities

Explanation

Unexpected consensus on leveraging celebrity influence for AI education, indicating agreement that non-traditional educational approaches may be necessary for widespread AI literacy

Topics

Sociocultural | Development

Overall assessment

Summary

The speakers demonstrate strong consensus on treating AI as a humanitarian tool, the need for proactive preparation and capacity building, the importance of international cooperation, and innovative approaches to AI education and cultural integration

Consensus level

High level of consensus with implications for coordinated global action on AI governance, education, and ethical development. The agreement suggests a unified approach toward inclusive, ethically-driven AI advancement that prioritizes human benefit and international cooperation over purely technological or competitive considerations

Different viewpoints

Unexpected differences

Overall assessment

Summary

No significant areas of disagreement were identified among the speakers in this transcript

Disagreement level

Minimal to no disagreement present. This transcript represents a closing ceremony where speakers (Doreen Bogdan Martin, Frederic Werner, and LJ Rich) are primarily focused on summarizing summit achievements, thanking participants, and announcing future plans. All speakers appear to be aligned in their support for AI for Good initiatives, international cooperation, ethical AI development, and the importance of standards and governance. The format is ceremonial rather than deliberative, with speakers complementing rather than challenging each other’s points. The absence of disagreement may indicate either genuine consensus among participants or the ceremonial nature of this particular session, where dissenting views would not typically be expressed.

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers demonstrate commitment to systematic organization and forward-thinking planning for international AI cooperation events

Speakers

– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Frederic Werner

Arguments

Coordination of summit logistics and speaker management across 700 speakers and 250+ sessions

Opening registration for next year’s summit scheduled for July 7-10 represents unprecedented early planning

Topics

Infrastructure | Development

Key takeaways

AI technology is advancing rapidly with breakthrough applications in healthcare, accessibility, and brain-machine interfaces, demonstrating significant potential for social good

The AI for Good Summit 2024 successfully brought together over 11,000 participants to engage in dialogue about AI governance, capacity building, and standards development

Trust in AI systems requires proper standards development and governance frameworks, with emphasis on ethical clarity beyond mere utility and efficiency

AI literacy and education integration into schools is essential for creating a resilient, AI-ready society

The UN system is actively integrating AI across 729 activities spanning 53 agencies to promote peace, dignity, and equality

AI should be treated as a means to do good for humanity rather than an end in itself

International cooperation and dialogue between countries at different stages of AI development is crucial for inclusive governance

Resolutions and action items

Launch of the AI Standards Exchange to support cohesive standards development and applications

Release of technical and policy resources to combat deepfakes and support multimedia authenticity through ITU collaboration with ISO and IEC

Planning for an international AI standards summit in Korea later in the year

Launch of a new food security challenge with FAO for next year

Opening of registration for AI for Good Summit 2025 scheduled for July 7-10

Continuation of the AI skills coalition to reach more learners and expand opportunities

Publication of chair’s summary from the AI governance dialogue for broader benefit

Unresolved issues

How to effectively manage the uncertainty and risks associated with creating AI systems more intelligent than humans

Specific mechanisms for ensuring ethical clarity in AI development beyond utility and efficiency criteria

Detailed implementation strategies for integrating AI tools into educational systems globally

Concrete measures for supporting countries just beginning their AI journey in governance development

Long-term sustainability and scalability of AI for Good initiatives across diverse global contexts

Suggested compromises

None identified

But if AI can hear your blood sugar, what else might it hear? Well, Jeffrey Hinton warned us yesterday we are creating something more intelligent than ourselves and we have no experience with what comes next. That’s not a call to panic. It’s actually a call to prepare.

Speaker

Doreen Bogdan Martin

Reason

This comment is deeply thought-provoking because it juxtaposes the immediate benefits of AI (medical diagnostics) with profound existential questions about AI’s capabilities and our preparedness. The rhetorical question ‘what else might it hear?’ opens up concerns about privacy, surveillance, and unintended consequences. The reference to Hinton’s warning about creating superintelligence adds gravitas, while the pivot from potential panic to preparation reframes the challenge constructively.

Impact

This comment sets the philosophical and practical tone for the entire summit wrap-up. It transitions the discussion from celebrating specific AI achievements to acknowledging the broader implications and responsibilities. It establishes the framework for why dialogue, governance, and standards (the main themes that follow) are essential rather than optional.

Trust isn’t a property of machines. It’s how we handle uncertainty together.

Speaker

Doreen Bogdan Martin

Reason

This is a profound philosophical insight that reframes the entire trust discussion around AI. Rather than focusing on making machines trustworthy, it shifts the focus to human collective responsibility and social processes. It recognizes that trust is fundamentally a social construct that emerges from how communities navigate unknown territories together.

Impact

This comment provides the conceptual foundation for the standards discussion that follows. It explains why technical standards alone aren’t sufficient – they must be embedded in social processes of cooperation and shared decision-making. It elevates the conversation from technical implementation to social philosophy.

We can do it knowing that we can build bridges of dialogue… we have to build these bridges of dialogue and that it is our very shared responsibility to seek that ethical clarity, as he called it, and go beyond the mere criteria of utility or efficiency when we develop and deploy and use artificial intelligence.

Speaker

Doreen Bogdan Martin (referencing Pope Leo)

Reason

This comment introduces a crucial ethical dimension that challenges the dominant utilitarian approach to AI development. By invoking religious/moral authority and emphasizing ‘ethical clarity’ over ‘utility or efficiency,’ it calls for a fundamental shift in how we evaluate AI systems. The metaphor of ‘bridges of dialogue’ suggests that ethical AI requires ongoing conversation rather than one-time decisions.

Impact

This comment serves as the moral crescendo of the speech, providing the ethical framework that gives meaning to all the technical and governance discussions. It challenges the audience to think beyond immediate practical benefits and consider deeper questions of human dignity and shared values.

We are the AI generation. We are the AI generation and we can do more… treat AI not as an end, but as a means, as a means to do good, as much as we possibly can for the benefit of all of humanity everywhere.

Speaker

Doreen Bogdan Martin

Reason

This comment is powerful because it creates a generational identity and responsibility. The repetition emphasizes urgency and collective ownership. The distinction between AI as ‘means’ versus ‘end’ is philosophically significant, positioning AI as a tool for human flourishing rather than an autonomous goal. The phrase ‘all of humanity everywhere’ emphasizes global inclusivity and equity.

Impact

This serves as the inspirational call to action that transforms the entire summit from an informational event into a movement. It gives participants a shared identity and mission, moving from passive learning to active commitment.

Overall assessment

These key comments transformed what could have been a routine summit conclusion into a profound reflection on humanity’s relationship with AI. Doreen Bogdan Martin skillfully wove together technical achievements, philosophical challenges, and moral imperatives to create a narrative arc that moved from celebration to contemplation to commitment. The comments didn’t just summarize the summit’s content – they elevated it to a higher plane of meaning, positioning the participants not just as conference attendees but as members of a generation with historic responsibility. The progression from acknowledging AI’s unprecedented capabilities, to reframing trust as a social process, to invoking ethical clarity, and finally to declaring generational identity created a compelling case for why technical innovation must be coupled with moral leadership and inclusive dialogue.

If AI can hear your blood sugar, what else might it hear?

Speaker

Doreen Bogdan Martin

Explanation

This question raises important privacy and capability concerns about AI’s potential to detect various health conditions or personal information through voice analysis, which has significant implications for privacy and medical applications

How can we effectively integrate AI tools into schools to create an AI literate society?

Speaker

Doreen Bogdan Martin (referencing President Alar Karist of Estonia)

Explanation

This addresses the critical need for educational reform and curriculum development to prepare society for an AI-driven future, requiring research into pedagogical approaches and implementation strategies

How can we chart a path towards inclusive AI governance that includes both advanced and developing countries?

Speaker

Doreen Bogdan Martin

Explanation

This highlights the need for research into governance frameworks that can accommodate different levels of AI development and ensure equitable participation in AI policy-making globally

How can we seek ethical clarity and go beyond mere criteria of utility or efficiency in AI development and deployment?

Speaker

Doreen Bogdan Martin (referencing Pope Leo)

Explanation

This calls for deeper research into ethical frameworks for AI that prioritize human values and societal benefit over pure efficiency, requiring interdisciplinary collaboration between technologists, ethicists, and policymakers