International organisations and the global governance of AI in health

Excerpt

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds potential to solve unmet challenges in health at the global level. Yet, as AI’s influence expands, so do concerns about its risks and the ethical and legal implications of its use especially in low-resource settings. The swift evolution and widespread deployment of AI has prompted a call for comprehensive global governance of AI technologies. As key actors in the international sphere, international organisations (IOs) have responded to this demand by developing guidelines and recommendations for ethical and trustworthy AI. This chapter critically examines the efforts of international organisations in setting standards for global AI governance in health. It maps the current governance landscape, shedding light on the multifaceted challenges presented by AI in health. It explores the steps taken by IOs to address emerging ethical concerns. Finally, it discusses the characteristics and inherent limitations of current IO efforts in the context of a rapidly evolving environment.