The AI Trust and Safety Re-imagination Programme by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aims to close the AI equity gap and foster human development by transforming how Trust and Safety (T&S) in AI is approached, particularly in developing regions.
AI holds transformative potential for sustainable development, but to harness its benefits equitably, T&S must evolve from reactive, crisis-based models into proactive, people-centered, and contextually adaptive systems. Existing frameworks often overlook local risks, cultural contexts, and the voices of underserved communities. Therefore, there’s an urgent need to empower local AI ecosystems, invest in digital literacy, and build human and institutional capacities that can shape AI safety from the ground up.
The programme emphasizes:
- Shifting T&S to address local manifestations of AI harm.
- Embedding safety-by-design in AI development and deployment.
- Supporting inclusive, equitable ecosystems that enable local innovation and safe AI use in developing countries.
- Encouraging cross-sector collaboration to co-create responsible, anticipatory T&S practices.
By drawing on insights from the upcoming 2025 Human Development Report, the initiative will translate global perspectives into practical, scalable action, ensuring AI technologies support both people and the planet.
