DEFIA Releases Statement of Intent on Human-Centric AI and AGI

GeSI is pleased to share the release of a new Statement of Intent from the Digital Education for Impact Alliance (DEFIA), calling for stronger human-centric boundaries for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). 

Launched within the GeSI ecosystem, DEFIA brings together educators, experts, students, private-sector partners and other stakeholders to explore how education can help societies respond to digital transformation in a more inclusive, responsible and sustainable way. 

The new Statement of Intent reflects this mission. It highlights the importance of ensuring that AI and AGI development supports human wellbeing, aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and serves society as a whole. 

As AI systems become more powerful and more widely used, education has a central role to play. Universities, faculty and students are not only users of AI technologies; they can also help shape how these technologies are understood, evaluated and guided. 

The statement calls on governments, international organisations, students and the private sector to work together to support responsible AI development. It encourages stronger cooperation on areas such as regulation, safety, accountability, cybersecurity, cloud and compute governance, and independent evaluation. 

It also invites students to take an active role as co-creators, evaluators and future stewards of AI systems. By engaging critically with AI in their fields of study and future professions, students can help ensure that emerging technologies remain aligned with human-centred values and long-term social benefit. 

For the private sector, the statement encourages continued dialogue and action, with a focus on ethical AI, transparent accountability systems and measurable positive impact. 

“Education has a vital role to play in helping societies understand, question and shape the future of AI. Through DEFIA, we want to bring educators, students, industry and partners into a shared conversation about how AI can support learning, wellbeing and sustainable development. This Statement of Intent is an important step in that direction.”
— Veerle Vandeweerd, Director, DEFIA 

Through this Statement of Intent, DEFIA reaffirms its commitment to moving from reflection to action. By connecting academic insight, student agency and private-sector experience, DEFIA aims to contribute to the development of knowledge, tools and guardrails that allow AI to become a trustworthy force for good. 

Read the full Statement of Intent below. 

 

Statement of Intent

Working with the private sector and other partners, we aim at mobilizing academic faculty and students to ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and, by extension, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) development and use operate within well-defined, human-centric boundaries. These boundaries should align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and benefit the whole of humanity, rather than serving narrow commercial or geopolitical interests.

The Context

The rapid acceleration of AI development presents unprecedented opportunities for human health and wellbeing. However, the rush toward “superintelligence”—AI that significantly outperforms humans on essentially all cognitive tasks—also introduces significant risks. These include economic displacement, loss of civil liberties, cybersecurity threats, and challenges to human agency, dignity, and control, as well as potential human extinction.

As academic educators acting in our personal capacity and within the GESI_DEFIA framework, we recognize our responsibility to influence the direction of these technologies. We express our desire to collaborate with all relevant parties, bringing our knowledge, networks, and expertise to guide and shape an AI-powered, just, and sustainable future.

Call to Action

We call upon governments, international organizations, students, and the private sector to take the following actions:

For Governments and International Organizations:

· Treat AGI as a Global Public Good within the United Nations framework.

· Take concrete action including in the fields of national and regional regulation, compute and cloud governance, procurement, liability, and independent evaluation.

· Ensure AI is developed and used for the benefit of humanity within well-defined, human-centric boundaries.

· Prioritize cybersecurity and safety by developing robust standards and guardrails to protect humans and the social fabric upon which they rely.

For Students:

· Take agency as co-creators, evaluators, and the future stewards of AI systems.

· Envision the AI-powered world you want to live in and take action to make this vision a reality within your sphere of influence.

· Critically review the use of AI in your personal and professional lives.

· Work to ensure that AI development in your professional areas of expertise adheres to common human-centered standards and contributes to a sustainable future for all.

For the Private Sector:

· Engage with us in dialogue and action.

· Focus on the development of “Ethical AI,” ensuring products reduce harm and benefit society as a whole.

· Develop transparent, auditable accountability systems and AI with measurable positive social impact.

Our Commitment as Educators

We pledge to move beyond theory, taking “thought and do” leadership within our own spheres of influence. We will champion a worldwide movement to develop the knowledge, tools, and guardrails that allow AI to be a trustworthy force for good, ushering human society into a new era of well-being.

The path of AI is not predetermined. Through collective action between academia and the private sector, we can ensure that AI is a catalyst for lifelong learning, resilience, and wellbeing.

The future is in our hands.