Connecting young people around the world who are concerned about international peace and security in the era of artificial intelligence (AI)

The Youth and Peace in the Age of AI (Y.PAI), a youth side event of the 2nd High-level Meeting on the Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence (REAIM Summit), co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense, was held at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul on Tuesday, September 10.

outline

Host and Organizer: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Defense, Organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
Date and Location: Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 10:00-15:00, The Westin Chosun, Seoul
Attendees: Approximately 190 young people from Korea and abroad (conducted in English)
Composition: ▲Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Youth Envoy Policy Proposal Presentation, ▲ROK-UN AI Science Fiction Novel/Webtoon Contest Awards Ceremony and Presentation, ▲Youth REAIM On-site Training
‘Y.PAI’ carries the meaning of connecting young people, the main players in the AI ​​era, like Wi-Fi to discuss and debate the impact of AI on international peace and security.

The first session was the <Policy Proposal Presentation of the Youth Envoys for Disarmament and Nonproliferation>. Nine youth envoys selected from the 2024 Youth Envoys for Disarmament and Nonproliferation (31 in total) presented plans to establish international norms and governance for safe and responsible military use of AI from the perspective of future generations. Prior to the 2nd REAIM High-Level Meeting, the youth envoys learned basic knowledge related to disarmament and nonproliferation and issues related to AI utilization in the military at the Youth Academy for Disarmament and Nonproliferation for approximately three months starting in March.

Since 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been planning and operating various youth participation programs to implement the ‘Youth, Disarmament and Non-proliferation Resolution’ adopted by the UN General Assembly every two years. In particular, to increase youth interest in and participation in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been recruiting the <Disarmament and Non-proliferation Youth Envoys> every year starting in 2023.

The second session featured an awards ceremony and symposium jointly hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations. Director-General Cho Gu-rae of the Diplomatic and Strategic Information Headquarters and High-Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu attended the awards ceremony and presented awards and prizes to the young people who were selected for outstanding works. In his congratulatory remarks, Director Cho emphasized that the infinite imagination of young people is a valuable asset for creating the future, and that the Republic of Korea will work with the UN to ensure that the international community listens to the voices of young people. After the awards ceremony, a talk show was held where the outstanding people shared their experiences about the theme and production background of their works.

<Korea-UN AI Science Fiction Novel/Webtoon Contest> Overview

Host: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
Content: Expressing the impact of military use of AI on international peace and security in the world in 2145 (the 200th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations) in the form of novels and webtoons
Period and application: May-July contest, a total of 236 works received
Selection of excellent works: A total of 8 works (5 novels, 3 webtoons) were selected through expert review
The last third session was <Youth REAIM Training>. Based on a hypothetical scenario, the youth discussed solutions and response methods for ethical and legal issues that may arise when using AI in the military. In particular, the future leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense, diplomatic candidates and military academy cadets, also participated and discussed in depth ways to use AI in the military in accordance with international law. The youth expressed their feelings that through the training, they learned about the benefits and risks of military use of AI in a balanced way and thought about the role of youth in the responsible use of AI in the military.

This youth event, organized as a side event of the 2nd REAIM High-Level Meeting, is evaluated as an important opportunity to increase interest in and understanding of military AI among young people, who are the main players in the AI ​​era, and to convey the voices of young people regarding the responsible military use of AI to the international community.

Editor. Hong Se-yeong