About UNU
The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organisation headquartered in Japan. The mission of the UN University is to contribute, through collaborative research and education, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States.Activities by UNU
AI and sustainability in higher education
Global Not ApplicableThis project underlines the higher education sector’s contribution to harness the potential of AI for sustainable development by enhancing synergies among three UNU-IAS-led higher education institution networks – Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI), Promotion of Sustainability in Postgraduate Education and Research (ProSPER.Net) and SDG-Universities Platform (SDG-UP). Members of these partnerships established the Futures of Higher Education and AI Action Group, a transdisciplinary platform that develops knowledge-sharing activities. These activities examine the impacts of AI I higher education across four key pillars: research, teaching and learning, university management, and ethics.
Activity Type Research/Reports/AssessmentsNetworks/Mentorship/ExchangeRecommendations on the Use of Synthetic Data to Train AI models
Global Not ApplicableThis document sets out recommendations for the responsible use of synthetic data in AI training. The use of synthetic data has the potential to enhance existing data to allow for more efficient and inclusive practices and policies. However, we cannot assume synthetic data to be automatically better or even equivalent to data from the physical world. There are many risks to using synthetic data, including cybersecurity risks, bias propagation and increasing model error.
Activity Type Research/Reports/AssessmentsPolicy/Regulatory GuidanceAwareness/AdvocacyAI Landscape Monitor
Global Japan
Landscape Monitor is a dynamic knowledge-mapping tool designed to track and visualize the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) developments. It aggregates, organizes, and presents information on emerging technologies, research trends, and use cases, enabling stakeholders to stay informed and make strategic decisions. The platform emphasizes interactivity, timeliness, and contextual insights, making it ideal for monitoring complex, fast-changing domains.
Adaptability Beyond AI:
While designed for AI, the underlying architecture - data aggregation, classification, and visualization - can be adapted to other domains such as:
Climate Change Monitoring: Track policies, technologies, and global initiatives.
Public Health Surveillance: Map disease outbreaks, interventions, and research.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Monitor progress and innovations across targets.
Embassy Science Fellow – Artificial Intelligence: geopolitical and security- related implications of new technology in South Korea.
Global NetherlandsRepublic of Korea
The project aims to map the evolution of the Republic of Korea's
foreign policy strategy regarding the governance of Artificial Intelligence within
international cooperation frameworks. Through interviews with academic experts, industry
stakeholders, and institutional representatives active in the field of Artificial Intelligence, as
well as study visits, the project will gain insights into the Republic of Korea’s role in civilian
and military AI governance in the context of geopolitical and security implications of
emerging technologies. The research analyses the link between the Korean role of middle
power status and international processes, such as the Global Digital Compact, UNESCO
Recommendations on the Ethics of AI, the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
(CCW) process related to emerging technologies, including lethal autonomous weapons
systems (LAWS), and other United Nations debates. The project particularly emphasizes
the Republic of Korea’s involvement in discussions regarding military AI governance,
especially as it will host the second summit on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the
Military Domain in September 2024.