The Thomson Reuters Foundation and UNESCO have partnered to launch the AI Governance Programme, the first tool of its kind supporting corporate leaders in identifying how their organisation uses AI technologies so they can harness its power while minimising its risk the people, society and the environment.
According to McKinsey just 18% of companies have systems in place, like an enterprise-wide council or board, to make sure their use of AI is responsible and ethical.
The way organisations design and deploy AI technologies is already changing society, and is set to transform how we live and work.
But the speed of AI adoption also comes with heightened risk to people and business if not implemented ethically.
Corporate leaders are called to identify, understand and navigate the risks of their AI adoption journey, from how their use of AI impacts legal compliance to privacy and security to workforce upskilling and brand reputation. A lack of strategy around these emerging issues can have serious consequences on people’s lives and the future of their company.
The AI Governance Programme Initiative is a voluntary and free survey with added insights that will enable businesses to maximise the potential of AI, by highlighting best practice, whilst supporting risk mitigation. By mapping businesses’ adoption of AI across workflows, services and operations, the programme benchmarks best practice and enables companies to get companies get ahead of emerging AI legislation, positioning them as leaders in ethical AI adoption.
Introducing the AI Governance Programme
The survey will take companies through a thorough review of how AI is being used across their operations and processes, covering areas such as:
- Procurement of AI systems
- Legal accountability
- Data privacy and bias
- Human oversight of AI tools
- Environmental impact assessment
- Processes to review and mitigate risks of using AI
- The impact of AI on the workforce, including re-skilling or up-skilling workers
- Ensuring diversity and inclusion in AI tools.
Developed with input from AI experts and UNESCO’s Business Council, the Initiative is grounded in the values and principles of UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. Adopted by 194 UNESCO member states, the Recommendation is the first ever global standard on AI ethics, with human rights and dignity at its core.
The survey will be open for responses from July 2025 and guidance will be available from March. Ahead of this, we are asking company representatives to register to be among the first to take part.
Companies can also join free webinars to learn more about the initiative.
The initiative was launched today at the Foundation’s annual forum Trust Conference in London.
Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director General for social and Human Sciences, UNESCO said:
“Unrepresentative data, bias and lack of diversity in AI models can lead to discriminatory outcomes across all business operations. Without careful governance, AI risks entrenching inequalities and undermining human rights. UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, the only global standard, calls on the private sector to adopt ethical AI practices. Together with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, we are proud to put this provision into action through the AI Governance Disclosure Initiative, enabling companies to demonstrate their commitment to ethical governance of AI in their organization.”
Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director General for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO
Antonio Zappulla, CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, added:
“We are at a critical juncture. The way businesses will harness the benefits of AI will have a profound impact on people, society and the environment. This questionnaire is a critical and free asset that will help CEOs, CTOs, corporate counsels and Board Directors better understand the impact of their decisions related to AI adoption and identify potential harm to their broader stakeholder community. As such it will act as a powerful tool to mitigate organisational risk.”
Antonio Zappulla, Thomson Reuters Foundation, CEO
Transparency on AI adoption is good for business
Data from the AI Governance Programme will operate in tandem with the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s Workforce Disclosure Initiative (WDI), a world-leading platform on corporate disclosure.
Powered by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, WDI collates voluntarily disclosed data on how companies manage their people, with the aim of improving corporate accountability and transparency.
Data from the new AI Governance Programme will be made exclusively available to members of WDI’s investor coalition. This will help them to steward their investments based on the responsible use of AI.
Companies will receive feedback on their response to the survey.
Trends and insights from the new Initiative will be made available publicly.
“Corporate AI ethics activities have progressed beyond declarations of principles to active implementation and transparent reporting of actions. Since its inception, LG AI Research has announced its AI ethics principles and has been conducting research on AI reliability and safety, ethical impact assessments, and literacy enhancement activities. Based on these efforts, we have been publishing an annual LG Accountability Report on AI Ethics, transparently disclosing our compliance with AI ethics principles and the implementation of UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. We hope that more companies will join in transparently sharing their AI ethics practices and contribute to the responsible advancement of technology.”
Dr. Kyunghoon Bae, LG AI Research, President
Championing corporate AI adoption
Both organisations are uniquely positioned to drive corporate engagement on AI adoption and governance.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, one of the world’s leading content and technology companies. A registered charity in the UK and the USA, it leverages its media, legal and data-driven expertise to strengthen independent journalism, enable access to the law and promote responsible business. Improving data and transparency on the use of AI is key to the Foundation’s work to shape responsible business practices that allow companies to thrive while doing no harm.
As the United Nations’ laboratory of ideas, UNESCO is dedicated to safeguarding fundamental freedoms and human rights for the common good. Within the Social and Human Sciences Sector, the Ethics of AI Unit is focused on ensuring that artificial intelligence serves humanity and upholds human rights principles. The adoption of the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in 2021 establishes a framework for ethically governing AI by promoting inclusivity, equity, data protection, and international collaboration.
Find out more about how your company can get involved, positioning it at the forefront of transformational change.
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