How the UN Is Using AI to Advance Human Rights

Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Doreen Bogdan-Martin speaks at the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva. (file)

The United Nations is increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to promote human rights, improve healthcare, tackle climate change and strengthen humanitarian responses around the world.

From helping children with learning difficulties access education to detecting tuberculosis and identifying methane leaks, UN agencies are deploying AI to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

In Jamaica, six-year-old Ari, who has learning difficulties, is using AI-assisted technology that converts existing textbooks into interactive formats tailored to his needs.

UNICEF developed the technology through its Accessible Digital Textbooks for All initiative, which aims to address barriers faced by nearly 240 million children with disabilities worldwide. The AI-assisted programme is now operating in 17 countries and reaching nearly two million children, with plans to expand to 50 countries by 2030.

Tackling methane emissions

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is also using AI and satellite technology to identify methane leaks, which contribute significantly to global warming.

Its Methane Alert and Response System, launched in 2024, uses data from 30 satellites and AI to detect major methane emissions and alert governments and companies.

UNEP says the system has issued around 7,500 alerts and helped trigger 42 mitigation actions, preventing methane emissions equivalent to those produced by 24 million gas-powered cars.

AI can detect methane leaks 12 to 15 times faster and more accurately than humans, according to UNEP.

Reducing methane emissions can also improve air quality because methane contributes to the formation of harmful ground-level ozone, which can cause respiratory problems.

Faster tuberculosis screening

AI is also helping health systems detect tuberculosis more quickly, particularly in countries where access to specialist medical staff is limited.

With support from the World Health Organization (WHO), healthcare providers are using AI to analyse chest X-rays for signs of TB.

The technology, known as computer-aided detection, can rapidly assess X-rays and provide a likelihood score, helping health workers identify patients who need further testing and treatment.

In Ethiopia, for example, gold miners face elevated TB risks because of exposure to dust and silica. Faster diagnosis can help patients begin treatment sooner while reducing the risk of transmission.

WHO has supported developing countries in adopting the technology since recommending computer-aided detection for TB screening in adults in 2021.

AI in crisis response

UN agencies are also applying AI to humanitarian and security challenges, including detecting landmines, assessing disaster damage, identifying suspicious financial transactions, monitoring radioactive contamination and supporting nuclear fusion research.

These applications are expanding the UN's ability to respond to emergencies and deliver services in areas where resources and specialist expertise may be limited.

At the same time, the UN is stressing that AI development must be guided by human rights, ethics and equity.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has described AI as both one of humanity's greatest opportunities and one of its greatest risks, calling for inclusive oversight to ensure the technology benefits people rather than undermines peace, democracy and fundamental rights.

The UN's growing use of AI reflects a broader effort to ensure that technological advances are directed toward practical solutions that improve people's lives while protecting human dignity and rights.