From AI Innovation to Collective Action: Keeping Humanity at the Center - HLPF Side Event (Part 2)
- IVECA Center
- Jul 24
- 4 min read
The first part of IVECA and UNOSD’s HLPF side event was a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when humanity remains at the center of innovation. From smarter solutions to flooding and sustainable cities to cleaner energy and stronger food systems, students’ ideas proved that innovation is already within reach. To make this a reality, we need strong partnerships and collective action to drive meaningful progress. Convening in the Ban Ki-Moon Hall at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, Part 2 of the side event on Humanity at the Center asked the deeper question: How do we turn possibility into progress, and make sure humanity remains at the heart of AI?
Moderated by Ms. Ediola Pashollari, President of the Global NGO Executive Committee, the session brought together leaders from the United Nations, academia, industry, education system, and youth affairs to explore the values, partnerships, and coordinated actions needed to turn innovation into sustainable impact.
Opening the session, H.E. Ambassador Agnes Mary Chimbiri-Molande, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Malawi to the United Nations, reminded participants that technological progress must ultimately be measured by its impact on people and the planet. In a world facing interconnected challenges, from climate change and food insecurity to water stress and energy deficits, she emphasized that AI must be guided by “sound governance, international cooperation, ethical principles, and a steadfast commitment to leaving no one behind.” Her message set the foundation for the conversation ahead: technology alone cannot solve our challenges; it is how we choose to use it that matters.
Building on this, Dr. Hod Lipson, Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Columbia University in New York, highlighted AI's extraordinary pace of development and its potential to address humanity's greatest challenges. While acknowledging the uncertainty that accompanies such rapid technological change, he urged participants to respond with informed and purposeful leadership rather than fear. His call was clear and memorable: “Don’t fear—steer.” Rather than fearing the future of AI, humanity must understand how AI works, guide its development with human values, and harness its capabilities to build more sustainable and inclusive futures.
However, steering AI requires more than technical knowledge; it requires values. Mr. Felipe Queipo, Communication Officer in the Outreach Division of the United Nations Department of Global Communications, challenged participants to consider a powerful question: “What are we showing AI to replicate?” As AI learns from the data and systems created by society, it can also reproduce existing inequalities and biases. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that diverse voices, including young people, women, citizens of developing countries, and members of civil society, are not simply represented, but genuinely included in the decisions shaping our technological future.
From values, the discussion moved to action. Mr. Juan Fernando Martí, Corporate and Public Affairs Manager of the Guatemalan Sugar Producers’ Association (Asazgua), demonstrated how innovation can strengthen resilience through the Water–Energy–Food Nexus. His presentation highlighted how sustainable production can maximize the value of available resources, emphasizing the importance of “efficient use” and the potential to transform agricultural by-products into renewable energy and other valuable outputs. He also explored how AI can support sustainable agriculture through climate data analysis, early warning systems, irrigation optimization, and data-driven decision-making, showing how technology can move from the digital world into practical solutions for communities and economies.
For innovation to create lasting impact, however, humanity must be prepared not only to use AI, but to lead it with wisdom, critical thinking, and purpose. Ms. Keunhye Park, Supervisor at the Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education’s East Asia Global Education Institute (IEGI), brought this idea into the classroom, underscoring education as the foundation for responsible AI use and global citizenship. Through Incheon's Read (Explore), Walk (Experience), and Write (Engagement) Educational Framework and its AI literacy initiatives, she emphasized a simple but powerful principle: “Humans think, reason, and write first, and AI supports the practical process. Then humans verify and complete the task.” Her message offered a compelling vision for the future of education, one where AI does not replace human curiosity or judgment, but strengthens them, empowering young people to observe the world with genuine concern, ask critical questions, seek answers independently, and ultimately turn knowledge into responsible action for the global community.
The conversation ultimately returned to the youth at the heart of the event. Ms. Sudha Balakrishnan, Chief of UN System Coordination and Accountability at the UN Youth Office, emphasized that “young people are already developing and using AI” and therefore must be treated not simply as future leaders, but as equal partners today. Meaningful youth engagement, she explained, means involving young people in co-designing solutions, supporting implementation, and evaluating outcomes together. Her final message brought the entire session together: “AI is a tool, not the end goal.” Its purpose must be to improve lives, accelerate progress toward achieving the SDGs, and ensure that no one is left behind.
As the session concluded, a defining insight emerged: the real question is not simply what AI can do for humanity, but what humanity will choose to do with AI. From the possibilities demonstrated by students in Part 1 to the global call for partnership and collective action in Part 2, one message stood out: the future of AI will not be determined by technology alone. It will be determined by our values, our choices, and our willingness to work together.
