Predictions ahead of UNGA 78: Will AI take centre stage at assembly?
As evidenced by last year’s assembly report, there is increasing emphasis on digital issues. Year after year, more countries have been addressing these topics, indicating a clear upward trajectory.
Diplomacy is returning to New York as the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA 78) high-level segment commences on 19 September. Over the next two weeks, DW researchers, backed by our AI tool, will embark on a deep dive into policy priorities, discussion framing, and the overall rhetoric of the assembly. In the midst of this diplomatic gathering, it’s essential to look back at the previous year’s discussions to make informed predictions about what digital and non-digital issues will likely dominate the agenda this year.
As evidenced by last year’s assembly report, there is increasing emphasis on digital issues. Year after year, more countries have been addressing these topics, indicating a clear upward trajectory. It is reasonable to assume that this trend will persist, with an even greater number of UN member states discussing digital matters during UNGA 78.
In 2022, an impressive 91 countries and the European Union actively addressed digital issues in their speeches, marking nearly a doubling of countries engaged with digital topics in just five years. This growth underscores the global significance of ‘digital ‘ and their impact on international diplomacy. Let’s hope it continues.
Digital Prefix monitor
When examining the specifics of last year’s discussions, certain digital-related prefixes were more prominent than others. ‘Digital’ led with 125 mentions, followed by ‘cyber’ with 66 mentions. ‘Online’ and ‘hybrid’ prefixes are also featured, albeit to a lesser extent. It is likely that these prefixes will continue to be at focus, with the possibility that the term ‘hybrid’ will see an increase.
Notably, AI was not a dominant topic, with only a few countries, such as the Philippines and Rwanda, mentioning it in their speeches. However, given this year’s advances in AI technology and its increasing influence on various aspects of society, it is reasonable to anticipate a shift in this trend during UNGA 78. AI is likely to claim a more prominent position in discussions, potentially securing the second spot among the most frequently used prefixes, if not challenging ‘digital’ for the top spot.
When discussing AI, several key phrases are expected to take centre stage in diplomatic discourse. These include responsible and ethical development and deployment of AI, governance frameworks for AI, maintaining human control over AI systems, and preventing the weaponization of AI technology.
Non-digital prefix monitor
Shifting our focus to non-digital issues, several terms and concepts that received considerable attention during last year’s UNGA discussions are likely to feature prominently on this year’s agenda. The main prefixes were: Ukraine, Covid, vaccines, climate, reform and multilateral.
One such issue is the ongoing war in Ukraine, which is likely to feature prominently in European satements, viewing it as a threat to their security. Additionally, discussions about hybrid threats are also likely to feature highly. Developing countries reliant on food supplies from Russia and Ukraine will continue to prioritise discussions on this matter. However, whether it will occupy a higher or lower position on the agenda remains uncertain.
When it comes to COVID-19 and vaccines, these topics are currently experiencing a decline, and it is improbable that they will occupy a top position on the agenda.
Reform of multilateralism
The reform of multilateralism has consistently held a high place on UNGA’s agenda over the years and is anticipated to receive more attention than in the previous year(s). Two key factors that may influence the trajectory of this discussion are growing global security tensions, and the main theme of the assembly, which at its core calls for strong collaboration and putting emphasis on multilateralism towards achieving SDGs.
The sustainable development goals (SDGs) as a central theme
SDGs will probably not be achieved by the 2030 deadline, but instead, emphasis should be placed on reaching the end goal rather than the timing.
The overarching theme of the General Assembly debate is ‘Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its sustainable development goals towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all.’
This theme underscores the need for global cooperation and solidarity to tackle the world’s challenges, including ongoing climate change, poverty, conflicts, and other crises that impact all facets of sustainable development.
Let’s break down the meaning behind it:
‘Rebuilding trust’ signifies the need to restore faith in international institutions and mechanisms that have come under strain due to various global crises.
‘Reigniting global solidarity’ calls for a renewed commitment to multilateralism, where nations collaborate towards common goals.
‘Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals’ underscores the urgency of ramping up efforts to achieve the SDGs.
The latter part of the theme, ‘towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all,’ encapsulates the ultimate aim of the SDGs. It envisions a world where all individuals can live in peace, enjoy prosperity, and make progress within a sustainable environment.
Aligned with the overarching theme of UNGA78, the UN has recently introduced ‘UN 2.0,’ a transformative endeavour to expedite progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This initiative, guided by the Secretary-General’s vision, fosters cutting-edge data, digital solutions, innovation, foresight, and behavioural science capabilities. The objective of UN 2.0 is to deliver more substantial results, provide better support to member states, and accelerate progress towards sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Stay tuned and follow our just-in-time reporting.
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DW Team
The GIP Digital Watch Observatory team, consisting of over 30 digital policy experts from around the world, excels in the fields of research and analysis on digital policy issues. The team is backed by the creative prowess of Creative Lab Diplo and the technical expertise of the Diplo tech team.