World's first protection against AI is approved by all 193 UN nations that will ban malicious designs and development of the tech - and Russia and China co-sponsored the new resolution

Artificial intelligence has stoked fears and security concerns for years but a new global resolution to safeguard the public may provide much-needed reassurance.

The United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution to shield personal data, monitor AI for potential risks including scams, and protect human rights.

The resolution - proposed by the US - is non-binding but was agreed upon by all 193 UN member nations and co-sponsored by non-members from 123 countries, including China and Russia.

The resolution comes as high-profile tech moguls have expressed concerns about AI's reliability, including Geoffrey Hinton - the 'Godfather of AI' - who said last year that he regretted creating the technology and worries that machines could take over.

All 193 UN members signed an AI resolution to protect people's data and human rights

The White House called the resolution a 'historic step' and Vice President Kamala Harris said she and President Joe Biden are committed to establishing AI safeguards

The White House praised the resolution, calling it a 'historic step' to ensuring 'trustworthy' advancements in AI. 

National security adviser Jake Sullivan wrote in a statement: 'The resolution adopted today lays out a comprehensive vision for how countries should respond to the opportunities and challenges of AI.

'It lays out a path for international cooperation on AI, including to promote equitable access, take steps to manage the risks of AI, protect privacy, guarding against misuse, prevent exacerbated bias and discrimination.'

It took three months for the countries to finalize negotiations and agree on global privacy policies to ensure the AI technology benefits all nations and is 'safe, secure and trustworthy.'

The resolution noted the nations needed to agree on AI's 'design, development, deployment and use of artificial intelligence systems' is accelerating.

'We're sailing in choppy waters with the fast-changing technology, which means that it's more important than ever to steer by the light of our values,' a senior UN administration official said, and added that this resolution is the 'first-ever truly global consensus document on AI.'

This resolution aims to close the gaps in the technological divide between Western countries and poorer, third-world countries to make sure their technology is advanced enough to benefit from AI.

'The improper or malicious design, development, deployment and use of artificial intelligence systems ... pose risks that could ... undercut the protection, promotion and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms,' the resolution stated.

Scammers have used AI to steal people's data and money and have been used to impersonate family members on the phone - leading their relatives to believe they're in trouble and need money immediately before scamming them out of thousands of dollars.

AI has been used to make deepfake videos and pictures of people without their knowledge or consent

AI has also been used to create deepfake photos and videos of celebrities and average people, and because much of the violations are done through complex algorithms, it can be difficult to hold actors accountable for any harm caused.

'Now is the time to not only ensure that AI systems are rights respecting by design, but also to guarantee that those who are impacted by these technologies are not only meaningfully involved in decision-making on how AI technology should be regulated, but also that their experiences are continually surfaced and are centered within these discussions,' Amnesty International reported.

READ MORE: AI-generated voice calls are made ILLEGAL in US - and FCC says ruling 'takes effect immediately' 

Following the new ruling, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said, 'We're putting the fraudsters behind these robocalls on notice.' 

The agreement between all UN members and the support from other countries was a major development.

UN members said that there were 'lots of heated conversations. ... But we actively engaged with China, Russia, Cuba, other countries that often don't see eye to eye with us on issues.'

According to the resolution, all participating countries will ensure it is adopted and developed in a secure way that prevents the systems from exposing people's data and will make sure all nations can enjoy the benefits.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the US's AI Czar, said in a statement that the White House welcomes the UN's adoption of the resolution.

She continued: 'President Biden and I are committed to establishing and strengthening international rules and norms on emerging technology – because technology with global impact, such as AI, requires global action, and when it comes to the challenges of the 21st century, we believe all nations must be guided by a common set of understandings.'

The resolution comes after AI faced scrutiny from top tech executives who have painted a 'world-on-fire' scenario, with many warning that AI machines could take over, leading to an 'extinction level' event.

Tech titans penned a letter in March 2023 urging lawmakers to force companies to pause their AI software developments.

'Recent months have seen AI labs locked in an out-of-control race to develop and deploy ever more powerful digital minds that no one – not even their creators – can understand, predict, or reliably control,' said the letter which was signed by more than 1,000 tech developers and experts.

Among those who signed the letter were X owner Elon Musk and OpenAI ChatGPT founder Sam Altman.

Hinton also foretold what steps the technology could take to get out of control and cause human extinction.

'One of the ways these systems might escape control is by writing their own computer code to modify themselves. And that's something we need to seriously worry about,' Hinton told CNBC last year.

The AI godfather has even gone so far as to say he regrets building the technology but told The New York Times: 'I console myself with the normal excuse: If I hadn't done it, somebody else would have.'