United Nations Activities on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Geneva: ITU (2025), xvi, 500 pp.
ISBN 978-92-61-41001-8
"If 2023 was the year of generative artificial intelligence, 2024 was marked by the rapid expansion and adoption of AI, driving waves of innovation across nearly every conceivable domain. The United Nations system has kept an encouraging pace, redoubling efforts to harness the power and potential of AI responsibly. That progress is visible not only in the soaring number of UN AI initiatives — now totalling 729 projects, from 406 last year — but also in the depth of engagement across the system, with 53 UN entities contributing to this year’s Activities Report, six of them for the first time. This gathering momentum reflects our shared conviction that AI is no longer a distant aspiration; it is a present-day imperative within and beyond the United Nations. The projects highlighted here tackle urgent challenges, from accelerating climate action to improving health outcomes to expanding educational access, bolstering governance, and creating decent work. Nearly half of these efforts are built on partnerships with governments, academia, industry, and civil-society organizations, underscoring the multistakeholder spirit at the heart of the UN’s inclusive digital transformation agenda. Across our work, AI is already driving efficiencies, revealing deeper insights, and informing faster responses — from chatbots that streamline public-service delivery to data tools that strengthen emergency responses to applications that keep meetings and consultations running smoothly. These innovations are extending the reach and impact of our work in practical, promising ways. Yet the UN remains keenly aware of the risks and responsibilities that accompany AI. Ethics, human rights, and inclusion anchor every initiative, guiding us toward a shared digital future where AI helps us advance opportunity and prosperity for all. This report — prepared by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnership with 52 other UN entities — embodies the system’s resolve to lead by example. Read on to discover how AI is already driving progress, delivering results, and reshaping the way the UN serves people and planet in the digital age." (Foreword)
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, 1
The Food and Agriculture Organization, 4
International Atomic Energy Agency, 12
International Fund for Agricultural Development, 29
International Labour Organisation, 41
International Monetary Fund, 57
International Maritime Organization, 58
International Organization for Migration, 60
International Trade Centre, 63
International Telecommunication Union, 65
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 86
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, 96
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, 98
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 103
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 105
United Nations Development Programme, 116
United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Department of Peace Operations, 164
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe,168
United Nations Environment Programme, 182
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 193
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, 227
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 229
United Nations Population Fund, 232
United Nations Global Compact, 247
United Nations Global Pulse, 249
United Nations Human Settlements Programme, 262
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 270
United Nations International Computing Centre, 280
United Nations Children’s Fund, 284
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, 311
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, 320
United Nations Industrial Development Organization, 323
United Nations Institute for Training and Research, 337
United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, 346
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 349
United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism, 354
United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, 356
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 360
United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies, 364
United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology, 367
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, 370
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, 375
United Nations System Staff College, 377
United Nations World Tourism Organization, 381
United Nations University, 385
United Nations Women, 413
Universal Postal Union, 421
World Bank Group, 423
World Food Programme, 477
World Health Organization, 482
World Intellectual Property Organization, 490
World Meteorological Organization, 495
World Trade Organization, 500
The Food and Agriculture Organization, 4
International Atomic Energy Agency, 12
International Fund for Agricultural Development, 29
International Labour Organisation, 41
International Monetary Fund, 57
International Maritime Organization, 58
International Organization for Migration, 60
International Trade Centre, 63
International Telecommunication Union, 65
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 86
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, 96
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, 98
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 103
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 105
United Nations Development Programme, 116
United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Department of Peace Operations, 164
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe,168
United Nations Environment Programme, 182
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 193
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, 227
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 229
United Nations Population Fund, 232
United Nations Global Compact, 247
United Nations Global Pulse, 249
United Nations Human Settlements Programme, 262
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 270
United Nations International Computing Centre, 280
United Nations Children’s Fund, 284
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, 311
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, 320
United Nations Industrial Development Organization, 323
United Nations Institute for Training and Research, 337
United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, 346
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 349
United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism, 354
United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, 356
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 360
United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies, 364
United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology, 367
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, 370
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, 375
United Nations System Staff College, 377
United Nations World Tourism Organization, 381
United Nations University, 385
United Nations Women, 413
Universal Postal Union, 421
World Bank Group, 423
World Food Programme, 477
World Health Organization, 482
World Intellectual Property Organization, 490
World Meteorological Organization, 495
World Trade Organization, 500
