The Global Conference on AI, Security and Ethics, organised by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research Institute (UNIDIR), closed on 28 March. The event brought together academics, civil society and industry representatives to address issues related to the governance of artificial intelligence (AI), with a focus on its implications in the fields of security and defence.
“Today we are facing a crisis of trust,” said Ambassador Bencini in his intervention to the Conference, “Rebuilding it is essential, and for Italy this can only happen through the strengthening of multilateralism.” Italy supports a vision of safe, secure and trustworthy IA, promoting these principles in all major multilateral forums. He cited Italy’s contribution in the creation and promotion of the AI Act, the Global Digital Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular the closing of the digital divide.
The Ambassador also recalled the central role played by AI governance during the Italian G7 Presidency (2024), arguing that it represented “an opportunity to reaffirm the rules-based international order, rooted in shared values and principles, which must also be applied to AI.” Among the most significant achievements, in continuity with the previous Japanese presidency and the adoption of the Hiroshima AI Process (HAIP) Code of Conduct, Italy launched a monitoring mechanism to verify its implementation by companies, along with the introduction of the HAIP Logo, a symbol of transparency and adherence to the principles of the Code.
“Organisations must take appropriate measures during the development of advanced AI systems, before and during their deployment and market introduction, to mitigate their risks,” Bencini concluded. In the disarmament field, the Code appears to be fundamental for its focus on the dangers associated with the use of AI in chemical, biological and nuclear environments.
The statement is available at this link
